














o "^ 






























ANNALS OF 
CHICOPEE STREET 

I5y Clara Skeele Palmer 

Illustrated, cloth bound $'•?" 

AN UNREDEEMED 
CAPTIVE 

liy Clifton J< »hnson 

With maps and many illustrations 

Taper covers .25 

The story of Eunice Williams, who at 
the age of seven years, was carried 
away from Deerlield by the Indians 
in the year 1704 and lived among the 

Indians in Canada as one of them the 
rest of her life. 

Kither of the above sent postpaid on receipt 
of price by 

HENRY R JOHNSON 

PUBLISHER AND SOOKSELLER 
SPRINGFIELD MASSACHUSETTS 

Orders and inquiries for local historical 
works will receive careful attention. 







u ii 



ANNALS 



OF 



CHICOPEE STREET 



RECORDS AND REMINISCENCES OF 
AN OLD NEW ENGLAND PARISH FOR 
A PERIOD OF TWO HUNDRED YEARS 



BY 

CLARA SKEELE PALMER 



HENRY R JOHNSON PUBLISHER 

SPRINGFIELD MASSACHUSETTS 

MDCCCXCIX 






FIRST COfV, 




n ^ 















JOHNSON 
FUBUSHBK 



9) 



TO 

THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS 01 

I III OLD FIFTH PARISH 

..l SPRINGFIELD 

[•HIS RECORD 

OF TWO HUNDRED YEARS 

IS DEDICATED 



ANNALS OF CHICOPEE STREET 
1675-1875 

Till-', first settlers in Chicopee were Japhet and 
Henry Chapin, and their brother-in-law, Rowland 
Thomas. Japhet and Henry were sons of Dea. Sam 
nel Chapin, one of the early settlers of Springfield 
Rowland Thomas had married his daughter, Sarah. 
Dea. Samuel was an intelligent, energetic Christian 
man, and we soon find him influential and prominent 
in the affairs of the town and the Province, as well as 
in the church. His social position is shown by the 
edifying record, that in the Meeting House, — 

"Goodwife Chapin is to sit in the seate along with 
Mrs. Glover, and Mrs. Hollyocke." 

There is one tradition that 1 )ea. Chapin was 
Welsh origin, and another that he was of Huguenot 
family. Some color is given to the latter tradition 
by the name of his wife. Cicely, a name found in early 
French families. 

An old writer has said. "God sifted three king- 
doms, that He might plant the finest of the wheat in 
New England." From whatever clime or province 
these sturdy ancestors of ours came, their history 
shows that they were in truth of "the finest of the 
wheat." 



6 Annals of 

As the early records are imperfect, it is difficult to 
determine the exact date of the first settlement in 
Chicopee; but a host of well-preserved family tra- 
ditions bear witness to the evidence of grants and 
deeds, that by 1675 Japhet and Henry were living 
in homes of their own. Japhet's house was on the 
bank of the Connecticut River, in Chicopee Street, on 
land now (1898) owned by Mr. Charles E. Baker, and 
northwest of his house. The cellar hole of Japhet's 
house and the old road leading to it remained until 
within a few years. Henry's house was near the west 
end of what is now Exchange Street in Chicopee 
Center. Rowland Thomas lived near Henry. 

The first grant of land in Chicopee was in 1659: — 

"One farme Given to Mr. John Pyncheon, Lying 
over Chicuppy river, with the Islands of s d River, be- 
low the plaice called the wading plaice with the 
Medow on the South side, also a Swamp betwixt the 
Medow and the River; this farme is by us bounded 
viz.. to run up the Grate River, Northward to the 
Brook called Willomansett, so up the brook to a foot 
parth y l goes to Squannungunick and to follow the 
parth that goes to Squannungunick to the mouth of 
Chickuppy River." 

The first mention of a road is in 1665: — 

"Xathanell Ely and Rowland Thomas, Committee.'' 

A Highway Over Chickuppy River, should Goe 

above the Islands, about 20 Rods, whair the Indian 

Common Wading Plaice is, or still higher on this side 



Chic op ee Street 7 

of the River. It is to goe near Rowland Thomasses." 
In 1662 Mr. Pyncheon deeded a part of his farm 
to Samuel Chapin. Later we find grants of land 
from John Pyncheon to Japhet Chapin, one of two 
hundred acres, one of twelve, and one of fifteen, all 
lying "north of Chickuppy River, and cast of Con- 
necticutt River," and all bordering on land which 
Japhet already owned. This makes probable the 
accepted tradition that Dea. Samuel had some time 
before deeded his land to Japhet. 

Henry seems to have bought his land directly from 
Mr. Pyncheon. In [659, we find him bargaining for 
200 acres "on ye north side of Chickuppy River, 
half of ye upper Island, and five acres of mowable 
meadow." For this he i~- to pay "twenty pounds in 
wheat at current prices at four several payments," 
five pounds each year for four years. Although he 
lived on the south side, he owned land on both side> 
of Chicopee River. Some "i this land remains in the 
families of his descendants t<> day. 

Mr. Theodore L. Chapin of Chicopee Street seems 
to be the only one now living on land directly inher- 
ited from his ancestor, Henry; but Edward and 
Charles Chapin, and probably Mrs. Naomi Chapin 
Ward, on the Granby road, own land which came to 
them from the same ancestor through five genera- 
tions. Hundreds of our broad and beautiful acres 
have never passed out of the Chapin name, though 
they may not have come to their present owners by 
direct inheritance. 



8 Annals of 

Sons and daughters were born to these brothers, 
and in a few years there were eighty-eight grand- 
children. Other settlers came to join them. Before 
j 700 we find the names — Cooley, Crowfoot, Hitch- 
rock, Wright, and Terry. John Crowfoot died 
young. Samuel Terry, who had married Sarah, a 
granddaughter of Japhet Chapin, went to Canada. 
Among the settlers at Skipmuck, we find the names 
of Phineas Stedman, John Stedman, Stephen and 
Cad Horton, and Ariel Cooley. Caleb Wright built 
a house on the north side of the river, but lived there 
only a short time, coming then to Chicopee Street. 

The original deeds and grants were afterwards 
ratified by the town, probably to avoid dispute. 
Sometimes it was done in town meeting, sometimes 
by the selectmen, and sometimes by a committee 
especially chosen for this purpose. 

This land had been fairly bought of the Indians. 
Probably they received for it much more than it was 
worth to them, for we do not find that they ever 
complained of the price paid. At first the Indians 
were friendly, and the relations between the white 
men and their Indian neighbors were not uncomfort- 
able. But King Philip's war changed all this. 
Springfield was burned, and the towns on the fron- 
tier, Hadley, Deerfield, and Northfield. were in a slate 
of continual anxiety. 

Hannah, daughter of Japhet Chapin. was married 
in 1703 to John Sheldon of Deerfield. When she 
was preparing her wedding outfit, her mother was 



Chicopee Street 9 

careful that she should have a dress suitable to wear 
into captivity. Think of the heroism of a young; 
woman going as a bride to her new home, in the al- 
most certainty of captivity or death! The dress was 
made. It was of flannel, probably spun and woven 
by her own hands. Three months after her mar- 
riage, Deeiiield was attacked in the night. In jump 
ing from a window, Hannah sprained her ankle, and 
was unable to escape or to secure her dress. But 
a few days afterwards, she saw it on an Indian 
woman. With other prisoners she was taken to 
Canada, their footsteps staining the snow with blood, 
as they went. By the energy of her father-in-law she 
was soon redeemed, and brought to Chicopee to her 
father's home, from whence she returned to her 
Deerfield home. She was probably ransomed by the 
payment of twenty pounds, which seems to have been 
the price put by the French on their English women 
captives. 

Greylock, the famous Indian chief for whom the 
mountain in Berkshire was named, was often in this 
vicinity. He had but one foot, having lost the other 
in a trap, so that his trail was easily detected, but he 
was never captured. His object seems to have been 
not so much scalps as prisoners, whom he sold in 
Canada. 

A little girl in her trundle bed was roused one 
night from sleep by some one creeping from the win- 
dow across the bed. Too frightened to move, and 
knowing that her safety depended upon perfect quiet. 



jo Annals of 

she watched him while he helped himself to food from 
the cupboard. He left the house as stealthily as he 
came. It might have passed for the dream of a 
frightened child, but the empty cupboard confirmed 
the tale. The thief was Greylock, who was too hun- 
gry to be dangerous. 

Skipmuck was attacked by the Indians. Some of 
the settlers were killed, and one or more taken cap- 
tive. Aaron Parsons and Berijah Hubbard, two sol- 
diers, had just finished cleaning their guns. They 
were saying, ''Now we are ready for the dogs," when 
a young girl, who was spinning by the window, ex- 
claimed, "They have come!" She ran. and in her 
haste and fright drew the latchstring from the door, 
shutting in the family. Lieut. Wright, who was at 
work in a shop near by. crept through a window and 
with this daughter escaped. The soldiers and one 
child were killed. One child, left for dead, revived 
and lived to grow up. Mrs. Wright was taken 
prisoner. The child was rescued by an aunt from 
Cliicopee Street, Mrs. Thomas Chapin. who was a 
sister of Lieut. Wright. 

The front door of the house built by David 
Chapin about 1705 was thickly studded with nails to 
prevent the Indians from splitting it open with their 
tomahawks. This house stood under the big elms on 
land now | [898) owned by Mr. Rowley, and was still 
standing in 1834. Samuel Chapin was fired upon and 
wounded while crossing the Connecticut River, re- 
turning from his work on the west side. But no 



Chicopee Street 11 

serious loss or injury seems to have come to any of 
the other settlers in Chicopee Street. 

During these early years, we find Japhet and 
Henry Chapin leaders in public affairs. Japhet's 
name appears as selectman, assessor, and juror. 
Henry served on various committees and was deputy 
to "the Publick Assembly" at Boston. His integrity 
is shown in this, that while four pounds was allowed 
by the town to their deputies, he refused to take more 
than 34 shillings, insisting that this was all it had cost 
him. In T687 Henry Chapin was one of those to 
whom was given the privilege to fish in Chicopee 
River, as far as "Schonungonunck fal or Bar." Ja- 
phet Chapin, Nathaniel Foote, Henry Chapin. John 
Hitchcock, and others, were authorized to build a 
saw mill at Schonungonunck Falls. In [694 "Iron 
Works and a Blacksmiths' shop in Skipmuck" are 
mentioned, and also "a Corne Mill." Previous to 
this all the sawing and grinding had been done at the 
mills in Springfield. But with all the difficult) of 
drawing lumber so far, log houses were not common 
here as in many new countries. The dwellings were 
frame houses, many of them of two stories. Some 
were built with two stories in front, and one in the 
rear, with what was called a "linter" (lean-to) roof. 

It has been said that after the burning of Spring 
field, the people here thought seriously of leaving, but 
the records do not show this. Other names appear. 
showing that settlers did not fear to come even in 
these troublous times. In 1683 Henry Chapin deeds 



I2 Annals of 

land to Riley on the west side of the river. It 

is said that Riley was an Irishman, and with other 
settlers who came to that vicinity, gave the name of 
Ireland Parish to that part of the town. Before this, 
it seems to have been known as "The Upper Wig- 
wames," showing that an Indian settlement was near. 

In 1 712 the County Road was laid out from Hart- 
ley to the lower end of Enfield, and "it is advised 
that it go by Mr. Japhet Chapin's Barn; that it be 
three Rods wide from Willimansepp Brook Down 
Chickuppee Plain, to Mr. Japhet Chapin's Barn, then 
Four Rods wide, then south cross Chickuppee River. 
then westerly to Mr. Henry Chapin's and southerly 
Four Rods wide." This followed what is now known 
as "the Old Road" to Willimansett and McKinstrv 
Avenue. A road was also laid out "on the West 
side of the Greate River." 

These county roadways were gradually taken 
under the care of the town, and in all grants of land, 
especial mention was made, "not to hinder or preju- 
dice the highways." 

The first mention of a school in Chicopee is in 
1 713, when the munificent sum of ten shillings is paid 
by the town to "Daniel Cooley's daughter for keeping- 
school." There had been schools in Springfield, since 
1 641, but it was impossible for the smaller children 
and inconvenient for the older ones to go so far. 

We find Province laws and town laws regulating 
the schools. "All children are to be taught to reade. 
and learn a catechism." "Children and servants" 



Chicopee Street 13 

are to be sent to school. ''All children from five to 
ten years of a^e to be sent to school, and if not, their 
parents shall pay to be rated (taxed) for all such 
children to the School Master." In 1714 a grant of 
12 pounds was made by the town, "To the farmers 
of Chickopee and Skipmuck towards the schooling of 
their children for the year ensuing." The next year. 
"The Upper Chickopee, The Lower Chickopee and 
Skipmuck" were "allowed Precincts for three years," 
and a grant was given to each for a school. But in 
[721 they were united in one Precinct. About this 
time the first schoolhouse in Chicopee was buil 
Chicopee Street on land owned by David Chapin. It 
was a one-story building, unpainted, with a huge tire- 
place, and stood until "The 1 )ld Red Schoolhouse" 
was built in 1701. Every parent was required to 
furnish one load of wood, "io be brought to the 
schoolhouse in ( )ctober," and "no scholar shall have 
any benefit of the wood until they bring their pro- 
portion." 

Some have questioned if "all children" included 
girls as well as boys: but the traditions of our grand- 
mothers and great grandmothers tell us of their going 
to school with their brothers, certainly in the town of 
Springfield, if not in Boston. 

The hrst grant of money to Ireland Parish for 
schools was in 1731. The first schoolhouse built 
there by the town was in r 77 2. The next year it 
was "voted, to build a schoolhouse in that part of 
the town where Aaron Ashler lives." The first 



14 Annals of 

schoolhouse built by the town in Lower Chicopee 
was erected in 1773. The first schoolmaster is said to 
have been a Mr. Shevay, an Irishman and a minister, 
who occasionally preached to the people on the south 
side of the river. 

Much has been said of the hardship and poverty 
of those early days. Hardship there was, and plenty 
of it. but it was cheerfully accepted as a part of the 
experience of a new country. Of poverty, in the 
sense of suffering for the necessities of life, there was 
little: for we must remember, that many things which 
are necessities to us were unknown to our grand- 
parents. Game and wild fowl abounded in the 
woods. The rivers were full of fish. Salmon were 
sold, "at the river for 6d.; in the village for 8d. ; 
shad l-2d. at the river: id. in the village." A few 
years later. Erastus Morgan and five other men 
caught in one night 6000 Shad and 90 Salmon. 
Every householder was required to keep at least three 
sheep. These and their fields of flax supplied them 
with clothing and bedding. 

We even read of a dressmaker in those early days. 
She did not send to Paris for her fashions, lint they 
might have been brought from London, since new 
colonists from the mother country were continually 
coming to the Connecticut Valley. Every young 
girl was taught to spin, and the stronger ones learned 
and practiced weaving, both plain and fancy, accord- 
ing to their skill and taste. It is true, that some of 
their table furnishings were of wood, and others of 




7. - 

< i 



C hie ope e Street 15 

pewter, but the wood was scoured to a beautiful 
whiteness, and the pewter might have been silver for 
its brightness. 

Mrs. Thomas Chapin, a matron of those very 
early days, said that she had two sons who were too 
rich to be comfortable, Abel and Japhet; one, 
Thomas, who was just about right as regarded prop- 
erly; and one, Shem, who was too poor. This Mrs. 
Thomas was a very generous woman, and when 
reproved by some of her family for giving away eggs, 
replied, "The more I give away, the better my hens 
will lay." 

Abel, whom she called too rich, was afterward- 
known as Landlord Abel. 1 Ie built the first house in 
Willimansett, on what is known as the Briggs lot, 
east of the railroad station. About 1730 he removed 
to Chicopee Street, and built the house now owned 
by Josiah A. Parker, and known as the "Uncle 
Moses place." It is the oldest house now standing in 
the city of Chicopee, with the possible exeeption of 
the Snow 1 louse in Johnny Cake Hollow, the age of 
which is not definitely known. Landlord Abel's 
house was at first o\ three stories: that is. with a 
gambrel roof. Here he kept a tavern for many years. 
A few pages of his account book have been preserved. 
They are interesting as showing the habits and cus- 
toms of the day. The entries are principally of what 
was sold at the Bar. "Rhutn and Cyder." "bowls 
of Punch and mugs of Flip." with occasional items 
of "Shugar, Seed-corne, Salt, and Molasses, lodging, 



1 6 Annals of 

meals and horse-keeping." The "Bill for the Com- 
mittee, sent by the Gen'l Court to lay out the Bounds 
of the Parish," is, — 

£ s d 
to three horses, oates and hay, 0-15-0 

to three bowls of punch, 0-15-0 

to three meals of victuals 

for the Com. at 5s per meal, 0-15-0 
to one mess of oates and two 

bowls of punch, 0-10-0 

The inventory of Landlord Abel's estate comprises, 
"live hundred acres of Land, Five Houses and 
Barns, Horses, Cows, Sheep, and Hogs, Hay, Grain, 
Farming tools, Six hives of Bees, Household furnish- 
ings, including Iron. Pewter & Brass ware, with 
some China and Glass." There are "Thirty-six 
Linen Sheets, Sixteen Blankets, Eleven Woolen 
Sheets, Six Table Cloths. Twenty-one Towels." 
We find in his wardrobe, — 

2 Great Cotes, a Black Velvet \ 

1 Strait Body Cote, 1 pare Velvet Britches, 

1 pare Lether Britches, 9 pare hose, 

1 pare Shues, 4 fine shirts, 

4 pare pir 6 common shirts, 

1 i I at. Shoe Buckles. 

1 lis library was, — 

One greate Bible. One Large Bible, 

1 >ne old Bible, Law Book, 

Barnard's works. wats Psalms & himes, 

binson Crusoe, Mather on Congregational 

( >ne Cubbord partly of books. principles, 

Sundry old Books Bound & Sundry Pamphlets. 

He had one "Negro Man." 



C hi c ope e Street 17 

These are only a very few of the articles mentioned 
in an inventory of over six hundred items. His 
personal property was valued at about 400 pounds; 
his real estate, at nearly 1300 pounds. The rich 
brother remembered the poorer one, for among the 
items is the valuation of a small farm given by life 
lease to "Shem Chapin & his wife." 

Benjamin Chapin settled his own estate during his 
lifetime, with the exception of hi- personal property. 
He gave his wife a jointure or marriage settlement at 
the time of their marriage. He gave hi- land to his 
sons, as they "came of age" and married. By will he 
q-ives to his sons "all my Husbandry Tools, and 
implements of what sort or kind soever." "To Ben- 
jamin, My Gun. ni}- Sword, my belt, my Great Bible, 
and my province Law Book." All the rest of his 
movable and personal estate he gives to his daugh- 
ters. Hi.- books were. — 

Mr. Vinson on the sudden appearance of Chri st to Judg- 
ment, 
A Pious soul thirsting after Chri-t. 
Doct. Watts sermons on various suL' 
Doct. Mather's Meditations on Death. 
Doct. Increase. Mather, on the Lord's Supper. 
Confession of Faith. Josephus' History, 

One great Bible. One Law Book. 

3 old Pamphlets. Six old Books. 

John Chapin. Jr.. a bachelor, wdio died in 1747. 
had a large estate: "Houses and lands" in Chicopee 
and Brimfield. "cows. Oxen, Steares & heffers," 



1 8 Annals of 

"'Horses & Hogs, Saddles & Bridles," money & 
notes, "ingen corn, Wheat & Righ & skins," and a 
Negro man named Pompey. He had coats and 
jackets of ''Camlet, serge, and Broadcloth." He had 
"Some shirts, some more shirts, & some fine shirts." 
He had "Shoe Buckles, nee Buckles, and one gold 
ring." 

Among the interesting records of these old days 
showing the custom of the time is the following 
Indenture: — 

"This Indenture witnesseth, that I, John Chapin of Spring- 
field, in the County of hampshear, in y e province of y e Massa- 
chusetts Bay, in New England, husbandman, have with y e free 
consent of my son, Asahel Chapin, put and do, by these presents, 
put my son, Asahel Chapin, an apprentice to Josiah Chapin of 
Springfield, in ye County aforesaid, Blacksmith, to learn his art. 
trade or mystery, after the manner of an apprentice to serve 
him from the twenty-seventh day of September last untill he is 
one and twenty years of age. 

All which time y c s d apprentice his master shall faithfully 
serve, his secrets keep, his Lawful Commands gladly everywhere 
obey, he shall do no damage to his master, nor see it done by 
others, without giving notice to his master; he shall not waste 
his master's goodes, nor lend them unlawfully to any, he shall 
not contract matrimony within s d time; at cards, dice or any 
other unlawful game he shall not play, whereby his s d master 
may be damaged in his own goodes, or the goodes of others, 
he shall not absent himself day or night from his master's ser- 
vice, without his leave, nor haunt ale houses or taverns, or play- 
houses, but in all things behave himself as a faithful apprentice 
ought to do during s J time. 

And the s J master shall use his utmost endeavor to teach and 
instruct s d apprentice in y e mode or mystery he now followeth. 
viz., the trade of blacksmithery, & to teach him to write, and y e 
rules of arithmetic, so he shall be able to keep a book of ac- 



Chicopee Street 19 

compts, & also provide him sufficient meate & drink, washing 
and lodging fitting tor an apprentice during y e s d time, and to 
find him two suits of apparel at y e end of y e term, y e one for 
Sabath and y e other for weak day, & for y e true performance of 
every one of s d covenants & agreements, either of y e s d parties 
hind themselves to the other hy these presents. 

in witness thereof they have interchangeably put their hands 
and seals this twelfth day of September, one thousand seven 
hundred and thirty-eight, and in the eleventh year of our Sover- 
eign, King Gorge the second, of greate britian, france and ire- 
land, King, &c. 

[OS! Ml CHAPIN. 

losK.ru Chahin, / 

i 17 it witnesses. 

.Sarah \ an Horn, ) 



We are sure that Asahel fulfilled most faithfully 
his part of the covenant, for we find him later with 
the Massachusetts troops at Louisburgh, "cheerfully 
enduring the extreme hardships of the siege. For 
fourteen nights they were yoked together like oxen. 
dragging cannon and mortars through a morass." 
Here Asahel died, but whether in camp or in battle, 
history does not say. His cousin, Nathaniel, also 
died there about the same time. 1745. 

For more than sixty years, the people of Chicopee 
continued their connection with the old First Church 
in Springfield, finding their way on foot, or on horse- 
back, fording the Chicopee River, at the Indian Wad 
ing Place, or sometimes going by canoe down the 
Connecticut. The Sabbath services and the weekly 
lectures were their edification and delight. Their 
lives were regulated by its ordinances and discipline: 
and, when death came, they were laid to rest in the 



20 Annals of 

old Burying Ground, at the foot of Elm street, on 
the banks of the Connecticut. The names of Japhet 
and Abilene, bis wife, may still be seen on the old 
headstones in Peabody Cemetery. They were re- 
moved when tbc building of the railroad made it 
necessary to discontinue the old burying place. The 
faithfulness of these people in going to meeting was 
wonderful. Mr. Ezekiel Chapin said, that for twen- 
ty-six Sabbaths in succession, he went regularly to 
Springfield to meeting. 

Tbc first allusion we find to any public religious 
service, in this precinct, is in [728, when a meeting of 
the local churches is held here — either in the school- 
house, or in a private bouse. From time to time 
an occasional lecture or Thanksgiving sermon was 
preached, and as the people grew stronger, money 
was raised for preaching during the severe cold of the 
v inter. 

In 174*) the precinct bad 40 voters. The qualifi- 
cation for voting was "40 shillings income, or Forty 
Pounds Estate." They began to think of a separate 
church and minister. Settlers bad come to Ireland 
Parish who were ready to join them. They had 
shared the perplexities of Mr. Breck's trial and set- 
tlement in Springfield, and bad seen the church grow 
strong under his ministrations. The Mother Church 
was about to build a new Meeting House. A peti- 
tion was sent asking leave to withdraw. The petition 
was dismissed. The Church in Springfield was un- 
willing to lose these faithful men and women, who 



Chicopee Street ~\ 

had contributed so much to her growth and pros- 
perity. 

In the Autumn the matter was again agitated, and 
the Committee of the First Parish replied in this 
curious manner: — 

"It's very evident by their (Chicopee's) Shewing 
that their Accommodations which they have obtained 
by being so far off from the Center of the Parish is 
more than a Compensation for their Fateagues on the 
Sabbath, for it is a very plain case that, if the rideing 
on Horse Back on a Plain six miles in half a 1 )a> is 
more than equal! to half a Day's labour, the Petition 
ers on the whole Live with much more Ease & Less 
Fateague than those who live in the Center of the 
Parish; who besides the Fateague they have in 
managing their business at a Distance all the week, 
are obliged to build & maintain Three Large vessels 
to Transport the Produce of their Lands to y' stores." 

The meaning of this seems to be, that, for the 
privilege of living on their own farms, and cultivating 
the rich meadows near their own homes, our Chicopee 
farmers could well afford to travel six or even seven 
miles on the Sabbath to attend meeting. The homes 
of the Springfield people were principally on what are 
now Main and State streets, and their farm lands 
were "at a distance." some of them across "the 
Greatc River." 

But the Chicopee people were in earnest. In 
1750 another petition was sent, this time to the 
General Court. 



22 Annals of 

"Octo r i: 1750 Monday: Mr. Japhet Chapin 
proceeded on his journey to Boston to urge y e grant 
of Chickapee's Petition." 

Petition sent to Boston in 1750 by the Inhabitants 
of Chicopee: — 

To the Honfble Spencer Phipps, Esq., Lieu 1 Gov & Comm der 
in Chief of his Majesties Prov. of the Massachusetts Bay in 
New-England. The Hon rb ' e His Majes ts Council & House of 
Representatives In Gen 1 Court Assembled at Boston the 30th 
Day of May AD. 1750. 

The Petition of us, the Subscribers, Inhabitants of the North 
Part of Springf ld in the County of Hampshire, Humbly Showeth 
That your Petitioners, for the greatest part of us Dwell full six. 
some Eight Miles & the nearest of us four miles from the Re- 
spective Places of Publick Worship we now belong to. Some 
on the East & some on the west Side of the Conetticutt River, 
& as we are now Situated 'tis utterly Impossible for us & our 
families in any Suitable manner to attend the Publick Worship 
of God in the assemblies we now belong to. The Legislature 
has obliged us by Law to attend, but we are absolutely obliged, 
as the case now stands to neglect it. We can't, near half of us, 
attend in Ordinary & not a Quarter of us in Extraordinary Sea- 
sons. We have many of us dwelt under these Circumstances 
for 60 years past & with all our Struggles & Difficulties not had 
one third part of the privileges which our fellow Parishioners 
have had for the Same Sum Expended. The labour & fatigue 
we & the bruit Creatures we use, undergo on the Sabbath farr 
Exceeds that of any other day in the week. Our numbers are 
greatly encreased & we Esteem ourselves able to build a House 
for the publick Worship & give Sufficient Encouragement to a 
Minister of the Gospell to Settle Among us, & indeed we Sup- 
pose by the best Computation we can make that it would not 
Cost us so much accompting Ten years together, as it does in 
the Posture we are now in, & with great Submission we Esteem 
it Extream hard that our fellow Parishoners Should make so 
much opposition as they do & have done to our being a Distinct 
Parish when they know all that is Said above to be true, only to 



C hie op ee Street 

make their Taxes a little lighter. We cannot think our Selves 
justly treated by them, when they take so much pains to keep 
us under Such Disadvantages in our Souls Concern only to save 
themselves a little worldly interest. 'Tis not long Since we paid 
our proportion towards the Settlement of a Minister in the 
midst of them, & we have for many years past hired Winter 
preaching among ourselves while we paid our full proportion 
for it amongst them & we can't get it Reinbursed. we have 
likewise done our full proportion with them in paying for a new 
& Magnificent Meeting House for them (principally) to Wor- 
ship in, for when it's done we can't have the benefit of it because 
we can't come at it. & we have lately requested the Respective 
Parishes we belong to, to Consent we Should be Sett off & 
they Refuse it; We therefore most Humbly move we may be 
Invested with Parish Powers & Privileges & that the bounds 
may be as follows (viz.) beginning at the muth of Chequabee 
River & run on the bank of Connetticutt River to the top of the 
Hill South of Sam 11 Terry's House. Thence East to the brook- 
called Hog-pen-dingle & thence by S d Brook at Chequabee 
River & thence by S d River to the Outward Commons & thence 
North by s d Commons to Hadley Line & thence West in Had- 
ley Line to Connetticutt River & thence Cross Connetticutt 
River to Northampton bounds; & thence to the West Side of 
Springfield bounds in the line between S d Towns & thence Be- 
ginning by Connetticutt River at Ryley's brooks mouth & then 
Run a West line from that to the West Side of the bounds of 
Springfield aforesaid. We beg leave further Humbly to Re- 
quest that the old Parish in Springfield on the East Side of the 
River, that still Continues So after we are Sett off, may be 
obliged to pay us on the East Side of the River what we have 
been taxed to the new Meeting House lately Set up amongst 
them, which we Seasonably requested them to be excused from 
that they might not build it too big for themselves.* We also 
further humbly request that those of us Petitioners that Dwell 
on the East Side of Connetticutt River may be Obliged if your 
Honbie & Honors Please To build the House for publick wor- 
ship & Settle the first Ordained Minister at our own cost. & 

♦This " humble request " was afterwards granted by "the old Parish in Springfield." 



24 



Annals of 



that after that all of us may be Enjoyned as in Common Cases 
to do our Equal Proportion towards the Minister's Support. 
& with great submission we humbly apprehend that there is not 
now, nor ever has been, an Instance of this nature, where So 
many People at So greate a Distance from this Publick Worship 
have ever been Denyed the Liberty of Setting it up near to them, 
that all may attend with Convenience & not one half or three 
Quarters live in Such Miserable and Uncomfortable Circum- 
stances for so long & tedious a Season as we have done. We 
therefore Most Humbly move we may be Sett off as afores d & 
that the Court would oblige the Inhabitants on the East Side of 
the River to do as they have agreed with their neighbors, peti- 
tioning with them, (viz.) be at the whole Cost of building the 
first Meeting House & Settling the first Minister & other Peti- 
tioners to pay an Equal proportion with them for the Minister's 
Support afterwards & Enjoy Equal rights in the Meeting House, 
in proportion as in other Parishes, and as in Duty bound shall 
ever pray &c. 



Nantes of 

Petitioners on the East Side of the River 



Jona tnn Chapin 
Henry Chapin 
Japhet Chapin 
Joseph Chapin 
Hleazar Chapin 
Henry Wright 
Caleb Wright 
John Vanhorn 
Slum Chapin 
Elisha Wright 
Japhet Chapin Jun. 
Benj n Chapin 
Stephen Chapin 
Reuben Miller 
Bcnj n Chapin Jun. 
Abel Chapin 
William Chapin 



Elisha Chapin 
Jon thn Chapin Jun. 
Benoni Chapin 
David Chapin 
Edw d Chapin 
Phinehas Chapin 
Benj Crofoot Jun 
Gad Chapin 
Thomas Chapin 
John Chapin 
Stephen Wright 
Seth Chapin 
Sam 11 Chapin 
Aaron Ferry 
Abner Hitchcock 
Isaac Chapin 



West Side of River 

Ebenezer Jones 
John Miller 
Benj n Jones 
John Day 2 nd 
Benjn Ball 
Ebenezer Taylor 
Joseph Ely 3 d 
Ebenezer Jones Jun. 
Gideon Jones 
John Day 3 d 
Timy Miller 
Joseph Ely 2 nd 
Joseph Day 
Benj n Jones Jun. 
Charles Ball 
Abel Stockwell 



Chicopee Street 25 

The First Parish was still so unwilling to let these 
people go, that for two years in succession a Com- 
mittee, Josiah Dwight and Edward Pyncheon, was 
sent to Boston to oppose the petition. The General 
Court, however, "listened carefully, and responded 
favorably." They appointed a Committee, who, 
having "repaired to the Lands & heard the Parties. 
& considered all things touching the same." fixed the 
hounds of what was for man)' years known as the 
Fifth or North Parish of Springfield, "first giving 
notice to the First & Second Parishes of Sprii 
The Second Parish was what is now the First Parish 
of West Springfield. There is no record of any 
objection made by them to this organization. The 
bounds of the Parish were fixed as desired by the 
petitioners, and included what is now (1898) known 
as Chicopee Street, Willimansett, llolyoke. and a 
part of Chicopee Center, then known as Lower Chic- 
opee. Others, whose nanics do not appear on the 
petition, joined the Parish soon after: Born, Azariah 
& Abraham Vanhorn, Thomas 'ferry, and M 
Wright. This same year Joseph Morgan settled at 
the foot oi Mt. Tom, in Ireland Parish, on a large 
firm, which he afterwards divided among his five 
sons, Joseph, Jr., Titus. Lucas, Judah, and Jesse. 
He joined the Parish, and, with his three son-. 
Joseph. Jr., Titus, and Lucas, was useful and promi- 
nent in its affairs. The people across the river were 
exempted from building the first Meeting House, and 
settling the first minister, but they were to assist in 



26 Annals of 

his support. This was probably for the reason, that 
they hoped to be able, before many years, to have a 
Meeting House and minister of their own. 

No sooner were the petitioners assured of a favor- 
able answer to their request, than they set to work. 
On the evening of January 2d, 175 1, they met and 
"All with united voices declared for cutting timber 
for a Meeting House." "Dimensions 42 x 33." The 
next day "about 40 men advanced into the woods to 
cut said timber. All volunteers! clear, cold and 
still." Jan. 4, "About 20 men advanced to finish 
yesterday's work. The cold somewhat abated." On 
the 7th a tedious storm set in, but it furnished the 
snow for "sledding the M. H. timber." A thaw 
delayed the work, but in February "the timber was 
got home very successfully." Spring came on early 
this year: — 

"Ducks, Blackbirds, Robbins, Larks, return & sing, 
Cheerful salute the approach of Spring." 

Winds and storms followed the beautiful February 
weather, and it was not until April that Mr. Morris 
Smith began to hew the timber. This month they 
made the brick. And so the work went on until 
June 5, when the record is, "This day thro ye Indul- 
gence of Heaven, we have our Meeting House raised 
with great safety and joy." At first the Meeting 
House was covered with "Ruff Boards," and a floor 
was laid. It was used in this way until December, 
1 752, when it was voted "to cover the outside of 



C hie op e c Street 27 

s d Meeting House with Quarter Boards, to Glaze all 
the windows, and to do the Plaistering overhead and 
to finish all the lower Part." From time to time, 
money was expended in different ways until it was 
finished in 1765. 

This old Meeting House was nearly square, with- 
out bell or steeple. It stood in the middle of our 
ihen wide street, a little north of where Mr. Rowley 
now lives. The "(Juarter Boards" with which it 
was covered, seem to have been "split clapboards, 
beaded where they came together. It was built of 
heavy oak timbers. There was carved work over the 
window-." For those days it was a good looking 
building. The seats were at first benches, afterwards 
(-hanged to pews. These were square, with seats on 
three sides. The partition- were high, and finished 
with an open railing. The seats were on hinges, and 
were raised or lowered according to convenience. 
As the custom was then to stand during prayer and 
to sit during singing, there was often a noisy clatter 
when the prayer began. The pew on the right of the 
pulpit was for the minister's family. The two in 
front were set apart, one for the deacons, and one for 
the elderly men. A broad aisle ran through the 
center from east to west. There were two doors, one 
on the east and one on the south side. The high 
pulpit was on the west side, with sounding board 
above it. It looked to some of the children as if the. 
minister were shut up in a box, with a cover ready to 
fall on his head. The pulpit was painted pale green. 



28 Annals of 

It had a velvet cushion, for which 3 pounds was paid. 
Behind the pulpit was a window with a curtain of 
green moreen. The Communion table was also 
painted pale green to correspond with the pulpit. It 
was suspended on hinges and raised or lowered at 
pleasure. There was a gallery on three sides of the 
house, well rilled in later years with young men and 
maidens, who led the service of song. One corner 
was reserved as the "Negro's seat," for there were 
slaves in those days. 

In describing the Meeting House, we have antici- 
pated a number of years. It was raised on the 5th 
of June, 1 75 1. On Sunday, July 21, the first religious 
service was held in it. The record is, "Met in our 
new Meeting House." The first Parish meeting was 
held "on the thirtieth Day of July." The business 
after choosing officers, was to "provide for the work 
of carrying on the Meeting House." Ensign Benja- 
min Chapin was chosen Moderator; David Chapin, 
Clerk: and Japhet Chapin, Treasurer. 

At this time all money for church purposes and 
the support of the minister was raised by a tax upon 
"the Polls and Estates of the Freeholders and other 
inhabitants;" and at the second Parish meeting, on 
August 12, measures were taken to levy this tax "as 
the Law directs." In October, they began to talk of 
settling a minister; and Ensign Benjamin Chapin 
and Ebenezer Jones were chosen a Committee to 
apply to the Association for advice in regard to a 
candidate. 



Chicopee Street 29 

The Association recommended either Mr. John 
McKinstry or Mr. Judah Nash. Mr. Japhet Chapin 
was chosen "to engage the Worthy Mr. John Mc- 
Kinstry to Preach to us for a Quarter of a Year." 
And a tax of thirty pounds was levied to defray the 
expenses for the winter. In January, Mr. McKins- 
try had proved himself so able, that it was unani- 
mously voted to give him a call to settle. Some cor- 
respondence ensued in regard to the salary. On May 
1 8th he signified his acceptance of the call "if the Con- 
currence, Advice & Mutual Agreement of the Neigh- 
boring Churches of Christ, and their Rev'd Pastors 
be obtained." 

The Council called for his ordination met on June 
5, 1752, with this result: — 

These may certify that, after proper inquiry and examination, 
we are Satisfied of Mr. McKinstry's Ministerial Qualifications, 
and therefore consent to his Settlement with you. 

Wishing therefore the Blessing of God on your proceedings, 
we subscribe 

Stephen Williams Robert Breck 

Sam'll Hopkins Noah Mirick 

Peter Raynolds Freegrace Leavitt 

It was voted that the ordination be on the 9th of 
September, but the Style was changed that year from 
O. S. to N. S. There was no 9th of September, and 
the ordination did not take place until the 24th. 

A day of fasting and prayer was appointed for 
the 27th of August, "to implore the Divine Blessing 
& Assistance in our proceeding to settle the Worthy 
Mr. McKinstry in the work of the Gospel Ministry." 



30 Annals of 

The same ministers, with the exception of Rev. 
Freegrace Leavitt, were sent for to assist in the 
ordination; the neighboring churches were asked for 
"the help of their Rev d Pastors with their Dele- 
gates"; and the Committee were "also to take care 
to provide a place for the Entertainment of the afore- 
said Rev d Pastors & Delegates." 

There was "Voted & Granted to Eleazer Chapin 
the just Sum of one pound, fourteen shillings & 
eight pence, Lawful money, for Entertaining the 
Rev d Pastors & their Delegates, att the time of the 
Ordination of the Rev d Mr. John McKinstry; and 
keeping their Horses." 

Mr. McKinstry was the son of the Rev d John 
McKinstry of Ellington. The father was a graduate 
of Edinburgh University, "a gentleman of good 
abilities, popular talents and unwavering integrity." 
The son was a graduate of Yale. Students' names 
then appeared in the Catalogue, according to the 
social position of the family. He was fourth in a 
class of twelve. His father, in his seventy-fifth year, 
preached the ordination sermon. 

Miss Eliza McKinstry, who remembered her 
grandfather dressed for meeting, said that he wore 
a wig, three-cornered hat, breeches, long stockings, 
shoe and knee buckles. Probably the other ministers 
were dressed in a similar way, as well as many in 
the congregation, though, at this time, the wig was 
going out of fashion, and "the queue" was taking its 
place. 



Chicopec Street 31 

In those days, all ministers were settled for life. 
This, as well as the smallness of the population, made 
an ordination a rare and interesting occasion. Not 
only did the churches respond by pastor and dele- 
gate, but friends and relatives came to share in the 
joy. There was no Ordination Ball, as was often the 
case, but there was great gladness and genuine 
thanksgiving. The dinner was not a modern col- 
lation, but a genuine dinner. The big brick oven 
was heated again and again: and tradition tells us of 
pleasant words and good wishes, which passed be- 
tween the cooks. As one remarked, when putting 
the chicken pie into the oven, "Good luck to it!" a 
bright girl replied. "Well, this is the first time I ever 
heard of asking a blessing on the oven." 

There is no record of the organization of the 
Church. It is quite probable that there was no 
formal organization by Council, and that the Church 
grew out of the Parish, being recognized as a Church, 
when such action became necessary. Similar in- 
stances of irregularity are found in the early ecclesias- 
tical history of New England. There is a list of 51 
members of the church in 1753, one of whom is Pom- 
pey, the slave. 

Benjamin and David Chapin were chosen deacons. 
Benjamin was the son of Henry; and David, the son 
of Japhet. 

The Pastor's salary was at first £49 6s. 8d., 
gradually increasing for ten years at the rate of £1 
8s. Sd. each year. £80 was voted for "a Settle- 



32 Annals of 

ment." The salary was to be paid, "one half in 
provisions, Wheat, Rie and Indian Corn, and one half 
in silver at six shilling and eight pence per ounce." 
The Settlement money was to be paid in installments 
for three years, — "£26 13s. 4d. each year." Mr. 
McKinstry desired to use his Settlement money to 
pay for land, which he bought; and it was stipulated 
that he should not be required to pay for that until 
he received his payments from the Parish. The pro- 
visions were to be paid, "1-6 in Wheat, 1-5 in Rie, 
and the rest in Indian Corn," the value to be adjusted 
each year, by the market price of grain. It is inter- 
esting to know that in 1756 Wheat is 4s. per bushel, 
Rie 2s. 8d., and Indian Corn 2s. Mr. McKinstry 
was to have, also, "Twenty-Five Cords of Wood the 
first year, one cord to be added each year for Ten 
years." Later, it was voted to provide Mr. McKin- 
stry with "a sufficiency of Fire wood, and also Candle- 
wood." Candle-wood is an old name for pine knots. 
They were abundant and easily gathered from the 
pine trees on the plains. They were burned on the 
hearth, their light often taking the place of candle 
light. 

The young minister closes his letter of acceptance 
with these words: — 

"And so earnestly wishing that the Love of God, 
may be abundantly manifested towards you thro 
our Lord Jesus Christ, I earnestly desire the united 
interest in your Prayers for me, that all God's Dis- 



Chicopce Street 33 

pensations may prove Merciful both to you and to 
me. And So Remain 

Yours to serve, in Truth & Sincerity, 

John McKinstry, Jr." 

The Settlement money was paid, and the Parson- 
age built by the young minister. It is still standing 
on McKinstry avenue, and is now owned by Richard 
DeGowan. In 1760 he brought his bride from 
Suffield to make the home, so long a center of influ- 
ence to this community. She was Eunice Smith, a 
great granddaughter of Japhet Chapin, so she was 
coming to her own in coming to Chicopee. Her 
mother had been born here, and had lived here until 
her marriage; and it is probable thai it was while 
Eunice was on a visit to her grandparents that the 
parson wooed and won her. Pieces of her wedding- 
dress are still in the family. It was French cam- 
bric, and cost 4 shillings (one dollar) a yard. The 
old Button Ball tree, so long a landmark to the 
Street, was planted by her. soon after her marriage. 

Eight children were born in the old Parsonage. 
Archibald, the second son. was the first physician in 
Chicopee. but died soon after entering upon his pro- 
fession. Three of the children. "Mr. John," "Miss 
Dosia." and "Miss Candace," lived to old age. And 
it is to Mr. John's note books and records, that we are 
indebted for many interesting incidents of these early 
days. He owned the first thermometer in Chicopee 
Street. He was a great reader, and his Diary records 



34 Annals of 

that at one time he took seven books from the Parish 
Library. 

Soon after Mr. McKinstry's settlement, the war 
known as ''The French & Indian War'' broke out, 
bringing fear and anxiety to these homes. A num- 
ber of the young men joined the army. Edward 
Chapin (afterwards Dea. Edward) was at Lake 
George in 1755 as clerk of Capt. Luke Hitchcock's 
company. Capt. Abel (afterwards Col.) was out 
with a company, but was obliged to return on ac- 
count of illness. Ensign Moses was taken prisoner 
at Lake George in 1757. At first he fared badly; but, 
being able to converse a little in Latin, he interested 
in his behalf, a Catholic priest, who kindly assisted 
him in procuring some needed comforts. He was a 
surveyor, and his surveying books in Latin are still in 
the family. Caleb was killed at Lake George in 1755. 
Capt. Elisha, his brother, was cruelly massacred by 
the Indians, July 17, 1756, at Hoosack now Williams- 
town. His house was near the upper end of the 
Street, where Miss Harriet Chapin now lives. He 
had been Commander at Fort Massachusetts in 1754, 
and, becoming interested in that part of the country, 
removed his family there. A number of families 
were together in the fort. While most of the men 
were away in the fields, an attack was made by the 
Indians. They were repulsed by the women dressed 
in their husbands' clothes. Abandoning the attack 
upon the fort, the Indians succeeded in taking some 
of the men prisoners, among them Capt. Chapin. He 



Chicopec Street 35 

was brought to the walls and tortured to death in 
sight of his wife and children. She, Miriam Ely, of 
Ireland Parish, came back with her children to her 
early home. One of her sons, Sewall, was graduated 
at Dartmouth College, and entered the ministry, but 
died young. Another, Enoch, was a captain in the 
Revolutionar) War. 

By this time, the forest path had grown into a 
pleasant, well-shaded street with substantial houses 
and barns. Capt. Ephraiin was living on the farm 
(where his grandson, 1 '.riant, afterwards lived), keep- 
ing tavern and fatting cattle for the Boston market. 
Mr. Jonathan Chapin was living on the Crehore farm; 
his brother Timothy, on land adjoining; Dea. David 
and his son Benoni. on the Rowley place; Landlord 
Abel, keeping tavern on the east side of the Street; 
and his brother Japhet, on the farm adjoining his on 
the south. Later his son, Simeon, built the house 
which stood for many years opposite the present 
church, and which was owned and occupied for nearly 
seventy years by Levi Stedman and his son Benjamin. 
About 1750 Edward (Dea.) built a house, on what is 
now the Hastings place. Samuel Clark lived at 
Clark or Schoolhouse Lane. Next south was the 
large farm of Phineas Chapin, afterwards divided be- 
tween his two sons Phineas (Capt.) and Silas (Col). 
Dea. Benjamin lived next on land now owned by 
Mrs. Marshall Pease. William Chapin came next. 
He was known as "Mr. Billy," to distinguish him from 
the others of the same name; then Seth, whose land 



36 Annals of 

was inherited by his three sons, Seth, Zerah, and 
Zenas. Caleb Wright lived for a while on the west 
side of the Street, south of the Burying Ground; and 
there were others whose homes cannot be identified. 
South of Chickopee River lived Henry, George, Wil- 
liam, Joseph, and Benjamin Chapin. and Benjamin 
Crowfoot. Mr. Japhet Chapin also kept tavern in 
Lower Chicopee. After his death his son Austin con- 
tinued the business. It is said that the old "Toddy 
Road" took its name from the habit of the armorers 
on Springfield Hill, who used to come here for their 
refreshment, for the Temperance Reform was not yet. 
Willimansett was not settled till later. 

In 1753 nine men were chosen to "seat the Meet- 
ing House," and it was "Voted, to seat men and 
women together," after the fashion lately introduced 
in the new Meeting House in Springfield. At first 
they had been seated separately, the men on the 
north, and the women on the south side. It was 
also "Voted, that one year in age be equivalent to 
Four Pounds of Estate." The next year "Voted, 
that one year in age is equivalent to Three Pounds of 
Estate." 

"Voted, that the Pews left unseated, be for the 
use of girls under sixteen years of age." 

(The last seating of the Meeting House was in 
1809. There was sometimes jealousy and dissatis- 
faction; but, on the whole, it seems to have been a 
satisfactory arrangement.) 

This same year. 1753. it was — 



- F 




C hi copee Street 37 

"Voted, that the Parish take care y t a Drum be 
beat to call the People to meeting' at Proper Seasons." 
The Drum was beaten up and down the Street. It 
was owned by Mr. Lbenezer Jones, and he was paid 
5V4 in consequence of its being broken. After this 
4 s / is granted "to hire a Sign that may give notice of 
the meetings for the year ensuing." This sign was 
probably a conch shell. 

"Voted, to agree with some person or persons to 
Sweep and Cleanse the Meeting House." Five 
shillings and four pence was at first paid for this 
service. Later more was given. 

The Parish officers were all paid a small sum for 
their services. These items are for 1763: — 

£. s. d. 
To Mr. McKinstry as a Sallary for the year past, 61-6-8 
To Benoni Chapin for sweeping the Meeting House, 0-8-0 
To Mr. Jonathan Bement, for his services in 

apprizing Fire wood, 0-8-0 

To Edward Chapin for his services as Parish Clerk, 0-3-0 
To Abel Chapin for his services as Treasurer, 0-3-0 

To Defray Contingent Charges, 8-0-0 

In 1758 "Voted, and Chosen Messrs. Abel Chapin, 
Benjamin Jones & Ebenezer Taylor to be a Comm ttee 
to apply to the Select Men for the town of Spring- 
field, or to the Quarter Sessions (as the occasion may 
require) in order to have a Stated Ferry in this Par- 
ish for the more Convenient Crossing the Great 
River, and also for obtaining a Convenient Road for 
said purpose on the West Side of Said River." A 
road to the Landing on the east side had been laid 



38 Annals of 

out in 1729. This Ferry Road was just south from 
the place where Col. Abel Chapin afterwards built his 
tavern. About 1836 or 7, it was moved to the upper 
end of the Street, north of Mr. Frederic Chapin's 
house. This ferry was known for many years as 
"Jones's Ferry." 

By 1774 Springfield had begun to "take into 
Serious and Deliberate Consideration the present 
Dangerous condition of the Province." The situa- 
tion was indeed trying, for most of these men and 
women were of English blood; and those who were 
not had found safety and protection under English 
government and law. They had brought to New 
England not only the English language, but English 
customs and habits. Their public officers were called 
by English names, as Perambulator, Sheriff, and 
others. The minister was the Parson. The nine 
o'clock evening bell, still common in many New Eng- 
land towns, is the Curfew of Old England. Follow- 
ing English custom, their farms were divided by 
ditches. Some of these still remain, marking bound- 
aries laid out in the long ago days. The old home in 
the Mother Country was still dear to them. They 
mourned England's danger or defeat by solemn days 
of fasting and prayer; and, when in 1746 "the Duke 
of Cumberland obtained the remarkable victory 
against the Rebels (Charles Edward the Pretender) in 
North Britain," they kept glad thanksgiving. 

But they could not allow even England to oppress 
them, and when the town appointed a Committee of 



C hie op ee Str eet 39 

Public Safety, Ensign Phineas, Capt. Ephraim, and 
Dea. Edward Chapin were of the number. Money 
was voted "to teach soldiers the military art," and 
every able-bodied man was required to train, that he 
might be in readiness for any outbreak. 

When the crisis came in 1775, Paul Revere was 
nol the onl) messenger who rode to alarm the conn- 
try. Scarce!) had the first shot been fired at Con- 
cord Bridge, when [saac Bissell armed with author- 
ity from X. Palmer, one of the Committee of Public 
Safety in Boston, started in hot haste for the Connect- 
icut Valley. He asked for men and horses. From 
Springfield sixty-two men responded. Among them, 
from Chicopee, -Jacob Chapin, Israel Chapin, Phine- 
has Chapin. Eleazar Chapin. Jr., Solomon Chapin, 
Joseph Chapin, Jr.; from Skipmuck, — Cad Horton, 
John Stedman, Phinehas Stedman. 

( Others who joined the arm) later were Capt. Abel 
Chapin, who marched with a company to Ticonder- 
oga. In his company there were from Chicopee and 
Willimansett, — Moses Bliss, Zekiel Chapin, Benoni 
Chapin, Zerah Chapin, Ebenezer Burbank, Eleazar 
Wright. Thomas Frink, Collins Brown. 
' Captain Ephraim Chapin commanded a company 
belonging to the regiment of Col. Ruggles Wood- 
bridge. In his company were, — Paul Chapin, Eben- 
ezer Jones, Japhet Chapin, Seth Chapin, John Frink, 
David Chapin, Jacob Chapin, George Chapin. 

Capt. Joseph Morgan's company belonged to Col. 
John Mosely's regiment, 3d Hampshire Co. They 



40 Annals of 

"marched to Springfield and Northampton in sup- 
port of Government," also to "reinforce Northern 
Army, commanded by Col. Timothy Robinson of 
Granville." In this company were, — Lucas Morgan, 
Joseph Morgan, 2d, and Erastus Morgan — all from 
Ireland Parish. 

Capt. Enoch Chapin, who commanded a West 
Springfield company, was also from Ireland Parish. 

There was intense and angry feeling throughout 
the country. We quote one verse of a popular song, 
which Miss Eliza McKinstry remembered as sung by 
her grandfather and grandmother Williams. 

Lamentation over Boston. 
Composed while the City was in Possession of the British. 

Is Boston my dear town? Is it my native place? 
For since my calamity, I do earnestly remember it. 
If I forget, if I do not remember it, 

Then let my numbers cease to flow, and be my muse unkind. 
Then let my tongue forget to move, and ever be confined. 
Let horrid jargons split the air, and tear my nerves asunder. 
Let hateful discords greet my ear, and terrible as thunder. 
Let harmony be banished hence, and consonance depart. 
Let dissonance erect her throne, and reign within my heart. 

In 1776 and 7, Dea. Edward was in the Legisla- 
ture, serving his country as faithfully there, as were 
his neighbors and cousins in the army; and in 1778 
both he and Ensign Phinehas were Selectmen, caring 
for the needy families of the soldiers. Edward 
Chapin, Jr., was in the army, but we do not know 
his company or regiment. 

The war brought serious and pressing difficulties. 



Chicopee Street 41 

At its close, the depreciation of the currency, together 
with the high price of merchandise, and even of the 
necessaries of life, increased the distress. The depre- 
ciation of the currency is shown by the vote of the 
Parish, of "£68 to supply Mr. McKinstry with fire 
wood." 

Shays's Rebellion grew out of these difficulties, and 
Chicopee was for a time the rallying point of one 
company of the insurgents. They took possession of 
the then new Chicopee bridge, but scattered in con- 
fusion when the news of Shays's defeat reached them, 
many of them fleeing through our Street. One 
found refuge and a hiding place in a secret chimney 
closet at Capt. Ephraim Chapin's; and a sick soldier 
was kindly cared for at Parson McKinstry's. 

In 1782 the Legislature had passed '"an Act 
granting a Lottery for erecting a Radge over Chicka- 
bee River on the Road leading from Springfield to 
Hadley in the County of Hampshire," "as much Ex- 
pense, Difficulty and Danger attend the passing of the 
River." Two hundred pounds had been appro- 
priated by the town, and it had also "voted to take all 
the Lottery tickets unsold," and to be responsible for 
the prizes. The bridge was finished in 1783, some 
time before any bridge was built over the Connecti- 
cut. 

In 1786 "the Inhabitants on the West Side of the 
River" desired to be incorporated into a separate par- 
ish, and a committee — Lieut. John Miller, Lieut. 
Charles Ball, and Mr. Lucas Morgan were chosen to 



42 Annals of 

petition the General Court. There were delays and 
complications, but the matter was finally settled in 
1792 to the satisfaction of both parties. The church, 
now the First Church of Holyoke, was not organized 
until 1799. The eleven members had been, nearly all 
of them, members of our Chickopee church. 

Dea. Edward's Diary, a part of which is preserved, 
is interesting as showing" the men and women and the 
times. The first entry is on September 9, 1745, "A 
cool, foggy morning." He tells us of the weather, of 
his hunting and farming; of "the savage Indian foes" 
and their attacks upon the settlements; of his journeys 
to Northfield and to Boston, of his subscribing for a 
newspaper — a Boston paper; — of the building of a 
schooner, 'The Hampshire," by the neighbors to car- 
ry their produce to market at Hartford, which makes 
but one successful trip and "is lost! about 10,000 cwt. 
lading and all!"; of the building of the Meeting House 
and schoolhouse; of the texts and sermons; of his go- 
ing "last night (May 28, 1752), to L. — M. — W., & 
urging the affair of matrimony to be accomplished;" 
of being "Published at Springfield." And we rejoice 
in the record, "6 July, 1752, The author of this jour- 
nal married about this time." 

We can sympathize with the people, when on 
"March 24, 1748/9," it is recorded, "A long spell of 
very muddy travelling this Spring." 

June 9, "This day was observed as a day of humilia- 
tion and prayer through the Province, on account of 
y e distressing Drought." 



Chicopee Street 43 

December 28, 175 1, "We are informed that some 
in Boston who keep thermometers find that several 
days this week, it is colder by 7 or 8 degrees than has 
been known for several years past." 

Nov. [3, 1753. "About 11 o'clock in y e forenoon 
to y e surprise of many was heard y e report as of a 
large Cannon in the air, and by some in Connectticut 
the same, an Alarm of a Drum following by the space 
of several minutes." 

May 23, 1766, "The School House in Hartford 
Blowed up by Powder. Killed & wounded. Oh! 
Sad Effects of intemperate joy for the Repeal of the 
Stamp Act." 

This is the last entry preserved. 

This old letter, carefully preserved among old 
records, wills, and deeds, shows that the course of 
true love did not always run smooth with the young 
men and maidens of the "Antient" days. 

September 2j, 1770. 
Sir. I take the Liberty To write to you on a Sub- 
ject I never meddled with Before. I Desarn a Very 
Great alteration in a Sartain female Sence your ab- 
sence from here, and such uneasyness of mind as I 
fear the Event. She is sensible of her abuse to you, 
and desires you would give Her one opertunity more 
to Speak to you and if you will grant her the favour, 
you may make some Business with me, and I will 
Give you a Secret opertunity, and Sir, if you will not 
Do it for her Sake, please Do it for mine. 



44 Annals of 

I am not about to Bring you into a Snare. 

Whether you comply or not Pray keep this an entire 

Secret. 

Your Humble Servant. 



A few colored people were held as slaves, but 
slavery was always a mild form in Massachusetts. 
Pompey and Betty, who were married Nov. 10, 1755, 
belonged to Phineas Chapin. Bowen was owned by 
Landlord Abel; and Caesar, by Lieut. Japhet. 
Caesar ran away. Rev. Peletiah Chapin, who had 
married the daughter of Lieut. Japhet, went in search 
of him, but stopping to preach lost him again. His- 
tory does not say if he was ever found. Boston was 
bought from Charles Colton by Capt. Ephraim Cha- 
pin in 1760, for "Fifty-five Pounds Lawful Money." 
Another was Stephen, whose name appears on the 
tax list, but with no intimation of his owner. 

From 1779 to 1785 there are no Parish records. 
Meanwhile, Mr. McKinstry had been growing feeble, 
and with loss of vigor his voice was growing weak. 
The young people were not coming into the church, 
and there seems to have been general dissatisfaction. 
The times were hard, and by the division of the 
Parish the church was to lose some strong men on the 
west side of the river. An effort was made to secure 
the resignation of Mr. McKinstry, and one faction 
went so far as to close the meeting house. But Mr. 
McKinstry had been settled for life, and, reasonablv 
enough. was unwilling to give up his pastorate. 



Chicopee Street 45 

After long discussion, and much recrimination, the 
matter was very wisely settled by a Council, of which 
Dr. Bezaleel Howard of Springfield was scribe. 

Mr. McKinstry retained his parish. He was to 
perform such ministerial services as the Parish desired 
and his strength allowed. In return he was to receive 
from the Parish £18 a year, and fifteen cords of wood. 
It was voted to secure as colleague "a learned and 
orthodox minister." Rev. Stephen Bemis. who had 
studied theology with Rev. Dr. Lathrop of West 
Springfield, and had married a daughter of Capt. 
Phinchas, was called, but he declined. For sixty- 
one years Mr. McKinstry was pastor of this church. 
but for only thirty was he in active service. He died 
in [813. 

Dr. Lathrop, who preached his funeral sermon, 
speaks of him as "a man of good natural abilities a 
respectable scholar, and a sound divine, a man of 
exemplary piety, a modest disposition and unwaver- 
ing patience under long continued trials." 

In 1796 it was "voted to hire a master to instruct 
in Singing." This was of course Church Music. 
Watts' Psalms & Hymns was in use here, very soon 
after its first introduction into the country, and there 
was a choir in the meeting house, almost from the 
very first. In 1798 "voted to see what number of 
persons are likely to attend a Singing School should 
one be set up in the parish." Sufficient interest was 
shown to raise $40. Mr. Stickney was the first 
master. Among later teachers were Joseph Pease, 



46 Annals of 

Dea. Asa Pease of Granby, Cyrus White of South 
Hadley, and Reuben Goodman. Master Stickney's 
Singing School was the beginning of a series which 
continued, winter after winter, for more than fifty 
years. 

In 1785 Col. Abel Chapin built the old brown 
house, where he "kept Tavern" for many years, 
hanging out under the old elm tree the sign which 
told of good cheer and hospitality within. This sign, 
still in existence, shows on one side haystacks and 
sheaves of grain, on the other an ox and sheep with 
the name, S. Chapin, in large letters underneath. 

Col. Abel was a large farmer, and fatted cattle for 
the Brighton and New York markets, cattle which 
were the wonder and admiration of all. His son, 
Sumner, after him, continued the tavern and the fat- 
tening of cattle. Both father and son received many 
premiums for their stock. Some of us remember the 
beautiful Short Horns coming home from Cattle 
Show with their blue ribbon premium badges tied to 
their horns. 

It has been the fashion with some of this day and 
generation to deride the narrowness of old New 
England times. It is true that life in those days was 
very simple, but that life can hardly have been 
amusingly narrow, which dwelt continually on the 
tremendous realities of Liberty in this world and of 
Salvation in the world to come; and to the sweet and 
wholesome influence of these homely lives we owe 
much that is good in these latter days. Devout in 



Chicopee Street 47 

thought and habit, no people ever had truer reverence 
for God, the Bible, or the Sabbath. 

Family worship was almost universal, as was also 
the custom of asking a blessing at the beginning and 
of returning thanks at the close of every meal. In 
most families the Sabbath began and ended at sun- 
down, but a few thought with Mr. Pyncheon, that 
"the Lord's day did begin with the natural morning 
at midnight, and end with the natural evening at 
midnight." 

At first there were few clocks or watches, the 
hour glass, sun dial, and noon mark being used to 
mark the time. But by the close of the last century, 
tall clocks had become common. 

Homespun was the common, everyday dress, but 
most men had a Sunday suit of English broadcloth, 
while their wives had one or more silk dresses. 
Cloaks of beautiful red broadcloth were worn, and, 
occasionally, one of black satin. 

Mrs. Kezia, wife of Major Moses, who was mar- 
ried in 1785 and died in 1822, left a wardrobe that 
would be elegant even in these modern days. 

Every young girl had her chest or drawers of bed 
and table linen, blankets, coverlids, undenvear and 
stockings, probably spun, woven, and knit by her own 
hands. The store accumulated from year to year, 
and was ready for her marriage, when that came, or, 
if she remained unmarried, perhaps she needed it all 
the more. It was called her ''setting out," a quaint 
term to indicate the new life upon which she entered. 



48 Annals of 

The first carpets were "Home made." They were 
of wool, with beautiful stripes of bright colors, and 
were filled with coarse heavy linen yarn. 

"Boughten" carpets, as they were sometimes called, 
did not come into these homes until after the War of 
1812. Mrs. Giles Chapin, Betsey Chapman of El- 
lington, brought two carpets when she came, a bride, 
to Chicopee Street in 1816. By 1830 they were com- 
mon in every "North" or "South Room," as the par- 
lors of those days were generally called. 

The houses were warmed by fireplaces, great cav- 
erns filled with backlog and forelog as foundation for 
the smaller wood laid on top. The cooking was all 
done at the kitchen fireplace, which was furnished 
with a crane, with hooks and trammels for hanging 
pots and kettles, while below on the hearth, in a bed 
of coals, stood spider, skillet, or famous bake-kettle. 
Most of the baking was done in the brick oven, and 
no more delicious and appetizing food was ever eaten 
than came from these old brick ovens. 

The big kitchen was the living room, and was the 
most attractive room in the house. There on winter 
evenings 

"Shut in from all the world without 
We sat the clean-winged hearth about. 
Content to let the north-wind roar, 
In baffled rage at pane and door, 
While the red logs before us beat 
The frost-line back with tropic heat." 

As matches were unknown, every house had a tin- 
der box, with flint and steel, and scorched linen, for 



Chicopee Street 49 

striking lire, when necessary. But great care was 
taken to preserve the tire, by covering it with ashes, 
when not needed. Sometimes fire was borrowed 
from a neighbor, and there were town laws ordering, 
that "fire shall always be covered, when carried from 
house to house." 

The warming pan was part of the furniture of 
every house. This was a covered brass pan with a 
long handle, often of mahogany, which was filled with 
coals, and passed between the sheets at bedtime to 
take off the chill. It was used in sickness, or in ex- 
treme cold weather, when the children and old peo- 
ple were treated to a warm bed. 

Foot stoves were common, and were often carried 
to meeting, filled with coals from hard wood or cobs. 
The old Meeting House must have been a bitter cold 
place in winter, for fire in the House of God would 
have been considered an enervating luxury. It is re- 
membered that when the question of putting a stove 
into the new Meeting House came up for discussion, 
one man remarked: "If you had more of the grace 
of God in your hearts, you could keep warm enough 
without a fire." 

Candles were the only artificial light at first and 
for many long years, excepting candle wood, a name 
given to pine knots, of which a plentiful supply was 
always kept for use. They were burned in the fire- 
place during the long winter evenings, giving a bril- 
liant light to the big kitchen. Candles were made at 
home by dipping the long wicks in hot melted tallow. 



50 Annals of 

Dipping candles was a most interesting process. Un- 
der the skillful hand of the housewife they grew into 
the proper size and form, and when the number of 
dozens needed for family use was completed, they 
were properly cooled and laid away in store in the 
candle box. 

After the death of friends, it was customary to "put 
up a bill" as it was called, "asking the prayers of God's 
people, that the affliction might be sanctified to the 
surviving family and friends." The relatives all sat 
together, and some who were never seen in church 
dared not lose their respectability by staying away at 
this time. On one occasion, the minister prayed so 
earnestly for a family of motherless children, asking 
that the loss might be more than made up to them, 
that the father was indignant, saying, "He prayed that 
the Lord would give them a better mother." This 
custom was continued here until quite recently. 

The old Burying Ground was opened in 1741. 
Miss Sarah Hitchcock of Brimfield, who died while 
visiting relatives here, was the first to be laid there. 
It was enlarged in 1797, when forty-five dollars 
was spent in caring for it, and when it was taken in 
legal form under the care of the Parish. Since that 
first burial, over seven hundred of our ancestors, rela- 
tives, and friends have found their last resting place 
in this quiet spot. 

The gladdest day of all the year was Thanksgiving 
Day, for to us of Puritan ancestry Christmas was then 
unknown (Christmas was kept for the first time in 



Chicopee Street 51 

Chicopce Street in 1867). No New Englander can 
ever forget and no outsider can ever understand the 
meaning of "getting ready for Thanksgiving." For 
weeks beforehand, all the housekeeping arrangements 
were planned for it. The farm work was hurried up 
that the boys might be ready to begin school "the 
Monday after." New shoes, new gowns, new bon- 
nets and hoods and cloaks were made ready — every- 
thing must be in order for the great and joyful occa- 
sion. 

Pies without number, and in bewildering variety, 
found their way from the fragrant big brick oven to 
the buttery shelves. The raised cake, a modification 
of the English plum pudding, was a work of art. It 
was always baked on the week before. At least 
twenty-four hours were required from the making of 
the yeast before the beautiful brown loaves gladdened 
the housekeeper. 

Then came the long watched-for Sunday when the 
Proclamation was read. And when the minister rose 
in the great pulpit, opened the big sheet printed with 
the big letters, and, after reading the causes for thank- 
fulness which the pious heart of the Governor had 
suggested, closed with the stirring words, "God 
save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," 
our hearts beat fast with pride and patriotism. 

Going to meeting was a part of Thanksgiving Day. 
It was a re-union of friends, for children and grand- 
children came to the old home to keep the day in glad 
remembrance. Special music was always prepared, 






C2 Annals of 

and the Meeting House rang with Psalm and An- 
them. 

The dinner table was loaded with all the good 
things which the farm could supply and the skill of 
the housekeeper provide. One thing must not be 
forgotten, which was always on the table, the chicken 
pie. The turkey might sometimes be left out, but 
the chicken pie never. 

The first house in Willimansett was built by Abel 
Chapin (Landlord Abel), probably about 1720. No 
other settlement seems to have been attempted for 
many years. Some time before 1777, Rev. John 
Pendleton, Collins Brown, Gillis Frink, and Eleazar 
Wright had built houses in Willimansett. Rev. John 
Pendleton was a Baptist minister, and preached occa- 
sionally. His house stood near the South Hadley 
line. He was killed by a fall from his horse. After 
the Revolutionary War, a brother of John, Caleb, the 
father of Nathan and Jesse, settled near him. 

Capt. Joseph Griswold came about this time and 
built the house now the home of his granddaughters, 
Miss Elizabeth Mack and Mrs. Helen M. Stratton. 
Here he kept tavern until his death in 1829. For 
nearly forty years the old sign with the British Lion 
on one side, and the American Eagle wearing on its 
breast a shield with the Stars and Stripes, on the 
other, welcomed the traveler. 

By 1 761 the number of children had increased so 
much as to make the old school building uncomforta- 
bly small. This was taken down, and what some of 




g-9 

— = 

3 i 



Q .5 

J _ 

1 



C hi c op e e Street 53 

us remember as "The old Red Schoolhouse" was 
built on the same lot — in later years, between Dr. 
Amos Skeele's on the north, and Dea. Joseph Pease's 
on the south. It was an excellent building for the 
time, well built and substantial. It was of two stories 
and fronted the south. At first there were fireplaces, 
afterwards box stoves were substituted for these, one 
of them being- large enough to hold four-foot wood. 
It was not only schoolhouse but Parish house, and 
was used for a variety of purposes, — Prayer Meet- 
ings and Lectures. Singing Schools, Debating Socie- 
ties, Spelling Schools, Temperance and Anti-Slavery 
meetings, and sometimes a Justice's Court. In the 
lower room the desks were on three sides, rising by 
steps to the last row against the wall. Upstairs the 
seats and desks were movable. The older scholars 
occupied the room downstairs; and the little ones, the 
upper room. Sometimes there was a private school 
in the upper room for the more advanced scholars. 
In this room there was a pair of globes, an orrery, 
and a prism. 

The names of only two of the teachers of the early 
days are known, Samuel Ely and Samuel Leonard, 
Jr. In 1773 the latter received "£7 for teaching the 
school in Upper Chickopee the space of six months." 
For many years there were frequent changes in the 
teachers. A young woman taught all the scholars in 
the summer and the younger scholars in the winter, 
but a man was thought necessary to govern the large 
boys in the winter. He was often a college student. 



54 Annals of 

This schoolhouse also was built by the people of 
the Street; but two years later, in 1763, the town 
voted "Six Pounds to Ensign Phineas, Ephraim, and 
Edward Chapin of Upper Chicopee towards paying 
for the schoolhouse." The Spelling Book and Cate- 
chism were the first books studied. The Testament 
was the first reading book. Writing was taught, and 
simple arithmetic. Fine penmanship was considered 
an accomplishment. Later The Schoolmaster's As- 
sistant, often called Daboll's Arithmetic, came into 
use and kept its place for a long time. In 1783 Web- 
ster's Spelling Book with its fables and wonderful pic- 
tures made the children glad, and the next year 
Morse's Geography told most wonderful things about 
the earth's surface. The Art of Reading and The 
American Preceptor were added to the Testament for 
reading books, and Murray's Grammar began to teach 
"how to speak and write the English language cor- 
rectly." 

By 1830, Smith's series of school books, Grammar, 
Geography, and Arithmetic, was in common use. 
Peter Parley began his story telling about this time, 
and continued it in Geography, and in the First, 
Second, and Third Books of History. Emerson's 
Arithmetic, with its pretty pictures, was the first 
child's Arithmetic; and Colburn's Mental Arithmetic 
was the standard for more than forty years. 

Those of us who had the good fortune to be 
brought up with the interesting series of Readers 
published by G. & C. Merriam, remember them with 



C hi c op e e Street 55 

delight. The Easy Primer, The Child's Guide, The 
Improved Reader, The Intelligent Reader, The Na- 
tional Reader, and The Village Reader, were for their 
time quite equal to any modern system of school 
books. But what shall I say more? For time would 
fail to tell of all the books read and studied in The 
Old Red Schoolhouse, during its existence of more 
than eighty years. In 1842 it was moved from the 
place where it had stood so long to the lot where the 
present schoolhouse stands, and in 1846 it was taken 
down. 

For a long time the schools were opened and 
closed with prayer. The scholars were quietly dis- 
missed at night, each one stopping at the door, to 
bow or "curtsey" to the teacher. Children were ex- 
pected to show the same civility to older persons 
whom they met in the street. This custom was con- 
tinued as late as 1835, and some of us can remember 
how we ranged ourselves in a row, to "make our 
manners" as the stage went by. 

Dea. Edward lived until 1800. He was, as we have 
seen, one of the strong men, in parish, church, town. 
and state, well educated, of large sympathies, sincere 
piety, and consistent life. One of his sons was Dr. 
Calvin Chapin of Rocky Hill, Conn., — one of the six 
ministers who organized the American Board of Com- 
missioners for Foreign Missions. The Rev. Dr. A. 
L. Chapin, late President of Beloit College, was a great 
grandson. Dea. Edw-ard's wife, Eunice Colton of 
Longmeadow, survived him a number of years. She 



e;6 Annals of 

was known by the quaint name of "Granny Deacon" — 
not a term of ridicule, but of affection, for she was very 
much beloved. She was a sweet singer, and, in her 
visits among the neighbors, used to carry her hymn 
book in a bag, and sing to the children, some of whom 
never forgot her clear voice and pleasant ways. 
Their house, built in 175 1, was burned in 187 1. 

A very practical church unity existed at this time, 
for among those who often preached here with accept- 
ance was "Father Rand," so long the useful and well- 
beloved pastor of the Baptist Church of Ireland Par- 
ish. In 1804 it was "Voted, that the people of the 
denomination of the Baptists, have a right to use the 
Meeting House for one year, in proportion as they 
pay their taxes." This vote was repeated in subse- 
quent years, probably until the Baptists were strong 
enough to organize for themselves. In 181 6 they 
were holding services of their own in Willimansett. 

Wagons and carriages were not seen in Chicopee 
Street until after 1800, as every one rode on horse- 
back. We do not read, however, that they fright- 
ened the horses, as was the case in Blandford, where 
a town meeting was called to forbid their use on this 
ground. Happily the effort was unsuccessful. Capt. 
Phinehas was one of the first to own a chaise, and Dr. 
Skeele had one about the same time. Mr. Ruel Van- 
horn of Lower Chicopee owned the first double car- 
riage and drove a pair of handsome white horses. 

Every able-bodied man between the ages of 18 and 
45 was required to train, and Training Day became a 



C hie op e e Street 57 

regular, though not a legal, holiday. Twice a year 
the drums and fifes sounded the call to duty. The 
Spring training was near home, a Company training. 
In the fall the whole regiment trained together. 
Much enthusiasm was manifested, and many titles 
were won in this service. 

Col. Silas greatly enjoyed military practice, and 
gave time and money to it. It is remembered of him, 
that on the last day on which he rode as colonel at the 
head of his regiment, he spent one hundred silver 
dollars, in entertaining his officers and soldiers. 

Col. Levi C. Skeele was the last man in Chicopee 
to receive a commission, under the old laws. This 
commission is dated March 5. [835, and is given by 
"His Honor, Samuel T. Armstrong, Lieutenant Gov- 
ernor and Commander in Chief of the Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts." Soon after this changes were 
made in the statutes, and he was "honorably dis- 
charged at his own request in 1837." 

One familiar feature of those old days, the later, not 
the earlier ones, was the Post Rider, or. as he was 
commonly called. "The Post." Every Wednesday 
morning brought Mr. Alfred Judd from South Had- 
ley on his way to Springfield. On Tuesday, he rode 
to Northampton, bringing from there the Northamp- 
ton Courier and Hampshire Gazette, which he dis- 
tributed to subscribers along his route. There were 
a few in Chicopee Street who preferred the North- 
ampton papers. Wednesday P. M. saw him return- 
ing with the Springfield Republican, Springfield Ga- 



58 Annals of 

zette, and Hampden Post. How eagerly we used to 
watch and listen for the blowing of the horn which 
announced his approach! His wagon was usually 
well loaded with boxes and bundles, for express com- 
panies were not yet. Sometimes he carried letters 
and occasionally passengers. Winter's cold or sum- 
mer's heat rarely kept him from his weekly round, 
and the memory of his regular visits is among the 
pleasant things of childhood. 

We must not forget the stage, which twice a day, 
for many years, rumbled through our Street. After 
1823 it brought and carried the mail. The yellow 
coach, with its four horses, was the most elegant con- 
veyance imaginable, and how we children envied the 
people who found it convenient or necessary to travel 
in that luxurious manner. At first cne coach was 
sufficient for the needs of travel, but in the years just 
before the building of the Connecticut River Railroad 
three and four crowded stages passed daily. 

The years passed on. One by one the old men, 
good and true, and the women, gracious and faithful, 
were gathered to their fathers. In 1804 there were 
but seven male members in the church. This year 
Dr. Amos Skeele moved into the place; and a little 
before this a young man, Joseph Pease, had married 
Rethiah Chapin, and opened the first store in Chico- 
pee Street. Mr. Pease's life was unique in the num- 
ber of offices and positions he was called to fill. He 
was first Mr. Pease, then Ensign, Captain, 'Squire, 
and Deacon. As a young man he taught school, was 



r 1 3 
> 3' i- 




C hi cope e Street 59 

a farmer, merchant, lumber dealer, and manufacturer. 
He was Representative to the Legislature. As Jus- 
tice of the Peace he was often called to settle estates, 
sometimes to act as Judge, and occasionally to marry 
people. As a singer he had a fine tenor voice, and 
he often taught singing school, played the bass viol, 
and led the choir. Everywhere he was an esteemed 
and useful citizen. 

Dr. Skeele was an earnest Christian, a man of in- 
domitable energy, with the courage of his convictions 
and of a mighty faith. When his wife, a woman of 
rare loveliness of character, objected to moving to 
Chicopee because there was no minister, his reply 
was: "If we go to Chicopee, we will have a minis- 
ter." At this time the Sabbath services were irregu- 
lar, perhaps unattractive. For three or four months 
in each year, preaching was hired; at other times 
"Deacon's Meetings" were held, when a sermon was 
read. 

After Dr. Skeele came he took charge of these 
meetings. Mr. Pease led the singing. — they always 
had good singing, — and Mr. Caleb Pendleton read 
the sermon. Mr. Pendleton writes in his Diary: 
"From the year 1800 in April to the present year 
(1824), I have for the most part assisted in Meetings 
on the Sabbath & at other times in the Parish, having 
read 456 Sermons, and many other pieces on Divinity 
in Meetings." Occasionally Mr. Osgood, the young 
minister from Springfield, or Mr. Storrs from Long- 
meadow, or Dr. Lathrop from West Springfield came 



60 Annals of 

for a Sunday and administered the Lord's Supper to 
the few disciples left, Dr. Skeele carrying on his heart 
continually his desire for a settled pastor. 

Two helpers in his prayers and efforts might be 
styled, as the Apostle John styled his friends, ''Elect 
Ladies,"— "Widow Lucy" and "Widow Mary," as 
they were called. "Widow Lucy" lived in the house 
which, until recently, stood in the corner opposite 
the church, once owned and occupied by Levi Sted- 
man. She had been a faithful friend to Mr. McKin- 
stry, and her house was open for service when the old 
Meeting House had been forcibly closed. Her faith 
in the future of the church was strong, and her pray- 
ers for its prosperity unceasing. The 2d Part of 
Watts's version of the I02d Psalm was her delight, 
especially the 1st, 2d, 5th, and 6th verses, which she 
often repeated, emphasizing the lines: — 



And 



"This shall be told, when we are dead 
And left on long record." 

"It shan't be said that praying breath 
Was ever spent in vain." 



Her faith was rewarded. A pastor was settled in 
May, 1824, and she lived until September of the same 
year. 

"Widow Mary" was a younger woman, of deep 
piety and unusual executive ability. She was the 
widow of "Young Capt. Ephraim," as he was called 
to distinguish him from his father. She lived in the 



C hie op e e Street 6 1 

house now owned and occupied by Mrs. Marshall 
Pease. It might be said of her, as of the beloved 
Persis, "She labored much in the Lord." Always 
ready for every good work, she was a blessing to the 
church and community, and died in a good old age. 

Two young men joined the church during these 
days of darkness and depression, men of influence in 
the church and community — Orange Chapin and 
Giles S. Chapin. Both served the church as Deacons. 
Dea. Orange taught school for a while, afterwards he 
was farmer and surveyor, or civil engineer. He was 
Assessor and Selectman, and Representative to the 
Legislature. He was Captain of a military com- 
pany, and was for more than thirty years Justice of 
the Peace. He was Clerk of the Parish for forty 
years, and Deacon for twenty-seven years. 

Ciles S. Chapin was Deacon for twenty-eight years. 
He, too, was Selectman and Representative, lie w; - 
farmer and manufacturer, and a very successful busi- 
ness man. Both were men o\ earnest and sincere 
piety. 

Dr. Skeele's courage never faltered. His faith 
never grew weak. Financial embarrassment and 
hard times followed the war of 1812. But the coun- 
try rallied, and the farmers were again prosperous. 
Wherever there was a ministers' meeting of any kind 
in the vicinity, association or ordination. Dr. Skeele 
was there with his question, "Do you know of any 
minister we can get to settle among us?" 

"Doctor, your church cannot support a minister." 



62 Annals of 

"We are going to have a settled minister," was 
his invariable reply. 

"Father, you are crazy," said his eldest son to him 
one day. "We cannot support a minister." 

"Otis, I shall live to see a settled minister." 

As physician he rode up and down the Street, 
across the plains to Ludlow, up the River to South 
Hadley, to Lower Chicopee, sometimes to West 
Springfield, always planning and praying for a settled 
minister. 

Brighter days came at last. The Home Mission- 
ary Society was willing to help, and a call was given 
to the Rev. Mr. Ripley. Ireland Parish was looking 
towards re-union with us. But this project failed, 
and Mr. Ripley declined the call. About this time 
word came to Dr. Skeele that the Rev. Alexander 
Phoenix, a man in middle life, just entering the min- 
istry, was looking for a country parish in the Connect- 
icut Valley. He had been a merchant in New York, 
where bereavement and pecuniary losses had turned 
his attention to a life of increased usefulness. This 
he hoped to find in the ministry. Having some in- 
come, salary was a secondary consideration. 

Two parishes sought him. He would come and 
preach in Chicopee, and look over the ground. He 
came. A call was given him, but he hesitated. On 
the Monday morning after the last Sunday of his 
preaching as a candidate, as his horse was brought to 
the door, Mr. Phoenix stood a few minutes before 
mounting. "Well, Doctor, I will let you know in 



Chicopee Street 63 

two or three weeks, but I do not think I shall come 
here. As things are now, I think I shall accept the 
call to Hatfield. But you will hear from me soon. 
Good morning." Mr. Phoenix rode away. The 
Doctor turned, went into the house, and calmly ob- 
served, "In less than a year, that man will be our set- 
tled minister." 

It made no difference to him that Mr. Phoenix had 
just told him that he should probably settle elsewhere. 
He was sure that this was the man the Lord had 
chosen for this church. His faith triumphed. In a 
few days the letter came. Mr. Phoenix accepted the 
call, on a salary of "$400, with a vacation of eight Sab- 
baths." 

Mrs. Phoenix was a daughter of Gov. Caleb Strong 
of Northampton, and both were connected with other 
prominent families in New England. They brought 
with them to Chicopee culture and refinement. It 
must have been a great change from the atmosphere 
of city life to a country parish in those days, but there 
was no friction in the relation of pastor and people. 
The people accepted him as their leader and example, 
in temporal as well as spiritual affairs, and reverenced 
him as few churches reverence a pastor. The older 
people followed him as a wise guide, the younger ones 
loved him as a father. 

It is difficult for one who did not live here during 
Mr. Phoenix's pastorate to understand his influence. 
It was not that he was a great man. But he accepted 
the opportunity which came to him, and in ways most 



64 Annals of 

wise and discreet he helped the people in their every- 
day life, while he 

"Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way." 

For the sake of his oldest son, who was not a strong 
man, he bought a farm, brought new and improved 
breeds of cattle, and new methods of farming. His 
garden was an object lesson. Strawberries had been 
cultivated before. He brought finer kinds. He had 
beautiful flowers. He built the first picket fence. In 
his house he had a family school, which was open to 
the young women of the parish, who gladly availed 
themselves of the opportunity to attend it. 

Mr. Phoenix was ordained and installed on Wed- 
nesday, April 28, 1824. 

The following notice is copied from an old Church 
Record: — 

"The day was solemn as well as interesting in the 
prospect before us, in the Ordination and Settlement 
of Mr. Alexander Phoenix at Chicopee, the 2d Parish 
in Springfield (Mass.) as a Pastor of the Church and 
People, and was performed in the following order, 
viz. Rev d Mr. Wright of Ludlow to make the Re- 
port of the appointment of the Ordination, the set- 
ting of the Council, and the duties assigned to each 
Minister to act on the day. The Rev d Mr. Knapp of 
Westfield made the Introductory Prayer. The Rev d 
Doct. Romeyn of New York to Preach the Sermon, 
from 2 d Timothy 2 Chap. 15 th v. The Rev d Mr. 
Gould of Southampton made the Consecrating Prayer. 



C hi c op e e Street 65 

The Rev d Mr. Williams of Northampton gave the 
Charge. The Rev d Mr. Osgood of Springfield gave 
the Right Hand of Fellowship and the Rev d Mr. Cha- 
pin of Granby, the East Society, made the concluding 
Prayer. 

"All parts of duty were performed with Solemnity, 
and the Assembly appeared to have an attentive ear, 
and good order on the occasion. 

"Caleb Pendleton, Jr., Clerk of the Ch." 

One of the conditions of Mr. Phoenix's settlement 
was the repairing of the old Meeting House, or the 
building of a new one. It was decided to build; 
$3000, in sixty shares of $50 each, was raised by sub- 
scription, and the work was put into the hands of 
Shepherd & Whitmarsh, at that time a prominent 
building firm of Springfield. The building commit- 
tee were Dea. Joseph Pease, Lewis Ferry, Jr., Orange 
Chapin, Joseph Chapin, Giles S. Chapin. Silas Sted- 
man, and Stephen C. Bemis. 

The lot of land on which the house was built was 
given by Eleazar and Mary Chapin Strong of Gran- 
ville. Mrs. Strong was a granddaughter of Dea. 
David, and her home had been in the old house with 
the fortified door. Perhaps a few who read this will 
remember her as "Miss Polly." The Meeting House 
when finished "cost Four thousand, four hundred dol- 
lars, some odd cents." The beautiful mahogany pul- 
pit, costing $500, was given by friends of Mr. and 
Mrs. Phoenix. 



66 Annals of 

The corner stone was laid on May 12, 1825, and 
the Meeting House was dedicated on Jan. 4, 1826. 
Mr. Phoenix preached the sermon from 2d Chron., 
7th chap., i2-i6th verses. The Rev. Messrs. Os- 
good, Sprague, and Gould assisted in the services. 
Dea. Asa Pease of Granby led the singing. 

The committee to seat people on the day of dedica- 
tion were Orange Chapin, Closson Pendleton, Dr. 
Rodolphus Perry, Chester W. Chapin, Stephen C. 
Bemis, Miletus Pendleton, and Joseph Griswold, Jr. 

The slips were bought by individuals, and among 
the owners we find the names of Samuel Osgood, 
Edward Pyncheon, and Daniel Bontecue. The most 
valuable slips were the one set apart as the minister's 
pew, and the one on the opposite side of the house, 
bought by Joseph Pease for $200. When the Meet- 
ing House was built, there was no other church be- 
tween South Hadley and Springfield, though the 
same year a small Methodist church was built at what 
is now Chicopee Falls. The congregation here came 
from Willimansett, Chicopee Factory, and Lower 
Chicopee, and no one dreamed of the changes which 
a few years would make in the parish. 

Mr. Phoenix's pastorate continued eleven years. 
His son-in-law says of him in his funeral sermon: 
"These years of pastoral labor in Chicopee were as 
full of peace and happiness as any man could hope for 
in this world." The wonderful revival which swept 
over the country, especially New England, in 1830 
and 31, visited Chicopee, and large additions were 



C hi c op e e Street 67 

made to the church. But bereavement followed him 
here. Two sons, his namesake, a young man of twen- 
ty-five, and a bright boy were taken. In 1835 he left 
Chicopee and a sorrowing people to reside in New 
Haven. He died in Harlem, N. Y., Aug. 31, 1863. 

His last thoughts, almost his last words, were of 
Chicopee. "Write — write to Brother Clark. Tell 
him, — tell them how much I love them." During 
twenty-eight years of separation, he had loved and re- 
membered and prayed for his people, and here to-day 
there are grateful memories of him, and of the beau- 
tiful work God gave him to do. 

Rev. E. B. Wright succeeded Mr. Phoenix in a 
short pastorate of four years. He was a good man, 
but easily depressed, and failure of health increased 
this depression. He was fond of singing and used 
to gather the children on Saturday afternoons. One 
half hour was spent in singing, and the other in recit- 
ing the Catechism. 

The Rev. E. B. Clark came to us in the summer of 
1839. He was acceptable from the first, and a call 
was given him, which was promptly accepted. He 
was ordained and installed Oct. 16, 1839. He was 
married to Miss Cornelia DeWitt of New Haven, 
Dec. 23, 1839, and the young people came at once to 
this, their first and only parish. 

Mrs. Clark was a beautiful woman, lovely in per- 
son and character, and her influence in the parish was 
hardly secondary to that of her husband. How wise- 
ly and tenderly she sympathized, encouraged, and 



68 Annals of 

comforted will never be forgotten by those to whom 
her gracious ministrations were given. Mrs. Clark 
died Jan. 17, 1880. 

Mr. Clark was a good pastor and a good practical 
preacher. He was also a good citizen. His long life 
among us gave him the feeling that all these homes 
belonged to him, whether the inmates attended our 
church or some other. He knew every one, and 
every one knew him. The generation which grew up 
under his influence were largely indebted to him for 
the formation of their character. 

For many years he was a member of the School 
Board, both in Springfield and Chicopee. He was a 
public spirited man. He planted shade trees. He 
cared for the parsonage. He was intensely patriotic, 
and served on the Christian Commission during the 
Civil War. 

. The needs of the soldiers found a ready response 
from the hearts and hands of our people. Soldiers' 
Aid Societies were organized. Lint and bandages 
were prepared. Apples dried, comfortable garments 
for the sick and wounded made ready; garrets and 
-closets were ransacked, and beds and blankets sent to 
the army. 

When the news of the fall of Richmond came to 
Chicopee, Marshall Pease was the first to hear it. 
He rushed to the church and rang out a peal of joy on 
the old bell. Mr. Clark came hurrying in to know the 
cause of this midday ringing. 
. "Richmond has fallen!" shouted Mr. Pease. 



C hi c op e e Street 69 

"Then let us sing the Doxology," said Mr. Clark, and 
there, alone in the old church, the two sang, — 

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow." 

They had sung the words together many times before, 
they sang them many times after, but never with 
deeper feeling or more thankful hearts. 

It was during Mr. Clark's pastorate that the 
Underground Railroad ran through Chicopee Street, 
with stations at Otis Skeele's and A. G. Parker's. 
Mr. Clark was not unwilling to be of assistance on 
this line, and at one time kept in his family several 
weeks a bright and valuable colored man, who was 
in hiding from his master. 

One of Mr. Clark's valued and trusted friends was 
Dea. Sidney Chapin. a man whom we all love to re- 
member. He was a wise counselor, a generous giver, 
a faithful friend, a beloved officer in the church, a 
man of blessed memory. 

Mr. Clark's only son is the Rev. Dr. Clark of the 
Tabernacle Church, Salem. The daughter, Cornelia, 
died in 1883. 

Mr. Clark was pastor of this church for thirty-six 
years, being dismissed in October, 1875. The 
changes of these years are suggested by his farewell 
sermon. In this he says that only one person is pres- 
ent who was in active life in the parish when he was 
settled. In November, 1883. Mr. Clark married Miss 
Rosetta Wilcox of New Haven. 

After his dismissal he remained in Chicopee Street 



70 Annals of 

until 1888, when he removed to Springfield. Mr. 
Clark died April 23, 1889. He left with his people 
the benediction of a faithful and loving pastor, and 
an earnest and consecrated life. 

It is quite impossible to record all the reforming 
and philanthropic influences of these later days. The 
Temperance Society with its 130 autograph signers to 
the Pledge; organized at first as the "Men's Associa- 
tion," it was afterwards "voted, to take in the Ladies." 
Nearly every family is represented. The Columbian 
Debating Society, the Pledge for keeping the Sab- 
bath, the Maternal Association, the Moral Reform 
Society, the Colonization Society, the Anti-Slavery 
Society, the Monthly Concert of Prayer for the Con- 
version of the World, and the Weekly Prayer Meet- 
ing. The Monthly Concert was on the first Monday 
evening of every month, and the Prayer Meeting on 
Thursday evening of each week. The latter was 
called the Conference Meeting, and was held "at early 
candle light." All these meetings were in the school- 
house. 

The faces and forms of the godly men of those days 
and the sound of their voices in prayer, are as distinct 
in memory as if it were only yesterday. 

Six men were always there, and always in the same 
places: Dea. Simeon Stedman, Dea. Giles S. Cha- 
pin, Mr. Lewis Ferry, Mr. William Chapin, Dr. 
Skeele, and Dea. Joseph Pease. Others may have 
been as faithful, but they did not always sit in the 
same place, and so made less impression on the mind 



Chicopee Street 71 

of a child. After the death of Dea. Joseph Pease, Mr. 
William Chapin was chosen in his place, but declined 
the office. He was a good man and true, and worthy 
to be held in remembrance among the fathers of those 
days. 

The story of the two hundred years is told. We 
began our existence as the 5th Parish of Springfield. 
After 1763, when Wilbraham was set off as a separate 
town, we became the 4th Parish. These changes re- 
mind us of the old days when scholars worked their 
way "up the class." In 1775 West Springfield was 
organized, and again, we "went up" and became the 
3d Parish. In 1783 Longmeadow left the old town, 
and we were promoted to the second place, which we 
kept for more than sixty years, until in 1848 we 
"went to the head" as the First Parish of Chicopee. 

The old Parish was at first a territory. Now it lies 
within the bounds of a single country street. While 
there has always been a steady drain upon the life of 
our community. Chicopee Street has from the first 
possessed a wonderful vitality. The men and women 
who have gone out from these homes have gone to 
build up other churches, to bless other communities, 
to brighten other lives. They have been a race of 
workers. They are artisans, mechanics, farmers and 
manufacturers, business men, lawyers and doctors, 
teachers, editors, and clergymen. 

Rejoicing in our past, a few of us still keep the old 
home, and watch and wait with earnest longing for 
the coming of better days. 



APPENDIX 

Reminiscences by Judge E. \V. Chapin of Holyoke 

Read at the Annual Roll Call Meeting of the First Church 
in Chicopee, September 30, 1897 

My Dear Friends: — 

The occasion which calls us together awakens feelings of 
pleasure and of sadness; of pleasure, to meet old friends whom 
we have been accustomed to meet in this time honored place, of 
sadness as we miss the sight of familiar faces and fail to receive 
the cordial greetings of friends of Auld Lang Syne. As we 
think of different friends who have left us we long "for the touch 
of a vanished hand and the sound of a voice that is still." But, 
if we have profited by the messages delivered from the sacred 
desk, and remembered the words of wisdom in Holy Writ, we 
cannot fail to recognize that our loss is our friends' gain; that 
absence from the body is presence with the Lord; that joys of 
immortality surpass those of time. For ourselves, — 

' 'Tis sweet as year by year we lose 
Friends out of sight, in faith to muse 
How grows in Paradise our store." 

This is a world of change, and yet as I compare the changes of 
Chicopee Street with those of Holyoke and other places about 
here it seems to me there arc less here than in the crowded city. 
This beautiful street with its wide spreading elms standing in 
front of ancient dwellings looks as attractive as ever. The Con- 
necticut River flows by with the same slow and steady current 
as in days of yore, but commerce has put it to new uses; freight 
that used to pass up and down this river and through the old 



74 Annals of 

canal by the slow moving canal boats, is now carried on the 
swift moving cars. The poet of old time wrote in its praise, — 

"Roll on, loved Connecticut, long hast thou ran, 
Bringing shad to Northampton and pleasure to man." 

It brings no longer shad to Northampton. Fishermen no 
longer gather in nets at South Hadley Falls the shiny fish which 
each spring used to bring up the river. The fishermen now 
stand in vain upon its shores to lure the unwary fish with tempt- 
ing bait. They have left the stream, which has not the purity 
of former days. When the first dam was built at Holyoke the 
Connecticut River rebelled against being stopped, and broke 
away from its restraint, carrying the dam with it in its course. 
As I stood by the river bank in Willimansett when a boy and 
saw the river filled with timber and logs sweeping past, I recall 
old Mr. Sikes, who was then a member of this congregation, 
always ready with some Bible quotation, repeating on this occa- 
sion a verse from Proverbs, as he watched the turbulent waters 
bearing away the timbers of the new dam. "Wilt thou set thine 
eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make them- 
selves wings; they fly away, as an eagle toward heaven." 

Chicopee takes its name from the Indian name of Chicopee 
River, which is said to mean the "River of Elms." All in this 
vicinity at first attended church at Springfield, and forded the 
Chicopee River at what was called "the Indian wading place" 
back of the Dwight Mills. It was not until 1783 that a bridge 
was built across the Chicopee River. There is a story told of 
one of the early settlers who trafficked with the Indians for furs. 
Not finding him at home, the Indians went to Springfield and 
found him at church, but he would say little to them beyond 
letting them understand that he would trade with them the next 
day. One of the Indians inquired the cause of so many white 
men assembled together, and the man, with an eye to business, 
replied they were putting down the price of beaver skins. 

The difficulty of attending church in Springfield led to the 
erection of a church in Chicopee Street in 1752; as there was no 
church in Holyoke then, the early settlers there were obliged to 
cross the Connecticut River to attend church here in Chicopee 
Street. Then no bell was here to call to church, and when the 



Chicopce Street 75 

first church of the valley was built, as the hour for worship on 
each Sabbath morning came around, the people were called 
together by the beating of a drum. Conveniences of light and 
heat were not present with our ancestors as with you. There 
was no fire in the first church, and if any attempt was made to 
carry any substitute it was done in the shape of a foot stove 
containing a pan of live coals, having a secure covering per- 
forated with holes to let out the warmth within. I have seen in 
the attic of my old home such a foot stove, which was carried by 
my parents to church to warm the feet of the occupants of our 
family pew. Many of us remember the long box stove which 
formerly stood near the easterly end of the audience room of this 
church, having a long pipe extending across the church and 
turning upward towards the roof a short distance in front of the 
pulpit. It had, too, I recollect, a large pan attached to the knee 
of the pipe to catch any stray rivulets that might course down 
the pipe from the roof and fall otherwise on the heads of the 
listeners below. My mother told this story of the introduction 
of the first stove into the church. Some woman opposed 
the innovation, fearing the heat would be too oppressive. The 
stove, however, was put up, but for some reason no fire was 
built in it the first Sabbath. This, however, was not known by 
the woman, who was so overcome by anticipated heat that she 
was compelled to leave the church during the service. 

The old choir gallery has ceased to be occupied by the choir 
but I cannot forget its associations. No stately organ was it 
our fortune to see there, but we were not without our music. 
The last bell had not ceased to ring before we used to see old 
Mr. Goodman, with his big bass viol, leave the little red house 
across the street a short distance above here, and with slow, 
dignified tread enter the church and climb the stairway to his 
elevated place, and immediately proceed to tune his instrument 
and awaken divers wondrous noises from its recesses, until at 
last the right sounds were evoked and all was in readiness to 
accompany the choir. As I had a side seat in the northwest 
corner of the church, I could see the different church members 
as they came in and took their places Sabbath after Sabbath with 
prompt regularity. I recall the time when a change was pro- 
posed in regard to the position to be occupied by the congrega- 



•j6 Annals of 

tion, as the choir was then in the rear of the church. It had been 
for a long time customary for the congregation to turn around in 
their pews to face the singers. The pastor suggested that a 
change be made and the congregation face the minister instead of 
the choir, and proposed that the audience stand as they rise. All 
did not readily accept this innovation, I remember; and I was 
amused from my side seat to see the result, those in some pews, 
remaining as they rose with faces turned towards the pastor, 
while those in the next pews in front would rise and turn to- 
wards the singers. You have now been prevented from having 
any such dilemma by placing both choir and pastor in front of 
the congregation. The Sabbath school which gathered at the 
close of the morning service was always of great interest to me. 
The class of boys which gathered there, while I cannot say that 
they gave the earnest study to the lesson which they have given 
in later years, were not members by any means of a Quaker 
meeting; having been separated for several days the meeting 
was one partaking of a social as well as of a religious nature. 
If a boy had purchased a new pair of boots from Mr. Adolphus 
G. Parker's shop during the week he was sure to exhibit them 
to his fellows, and the same was true of other new articles of 
wardrobe. I think Miss Julia Ann Chapin and the other teach- 
ers who had the charge of our class found it a lively one, but 
the members held their teachers in great respect and have al- 
ways remembered their kindness and sympathy. I have never 
regretted my connection with classes in the Sunday school. As 
I grow older I am more and more convinced that we do not 
appreciate the value of Bible study as we ought. The treas- 
ures of wisdom which the Bible contains if stored in the heart 
of the possessor will bring him greater happiness than the pos- 
session of the gold mines of the Klondike in the Yukon valley. 
It is the hope of an immortality taught in pulpit, Sabbath school, 
and Christian homes that brings comfort to us on an occasion 
like this, when we call to mind the different members of our 
households whose presence we miss. The God of Abraham. 
Isaac, and Jacob "is not the God of the dead, but of the living," 
and we commend the childhood faith taught us in Wordsworth's 
poem of the little cottage girl of eight years, a part of which 
I quote. 



C hie op ee Street 77 

" 'Sisters and brothers, little maid. 
How many may you be?' 
'How many? seven in all,' she said, 
And wondering looked at me. 

" 'And where are they? I pray you tell.' 
She answered, 'Seven are we: 
And two of us at Conway dwell 
And two are gone to sea. 

" 'Two of us in the churchyard lie. 
My sister and my brother; 
And in the churchyard cottage, I 

Dwell near them with my mother.' 



" How many are you, then,' said I, 
If they two are in heaven?' 
The little maiden did reply, 
'O master, we are seven!' 

" 'But they are dead; those two are dead! 
Their spirits are in heaven.' 
'Twas throwing words away: for still 
The little maid would have her will, 
And said. 'Nay. we are seven.' " 

Rev. John McKinstry was the first pastor of this church and 
a faithful servant in his pastoral work. His successors have all 
been devoted servants of the Lord, and left noble examples of 
lives of usefulness. My acquaintance with the pastors here com- 
menced with Rev. E. B. Clark. He was a faithful steward dur- 
ing his long pastorate and, like the venerable pastor Goldsmith 
describes, — 

"In his duty, prompt at every call, 
He watched and wept, he prayed and felt for all." 

He was faithfully assisted by his beloved wife, and all who have 
met that saintly woman will ever remember the ready smile and 
kind greetings she always gave. His children will always be 



78 Annals of 

pleasantly remembered by us and we all rejoice in the successful 
work of his son in the city of Salem. This parish has certainly 
been blessed in its choice of pastors from first to last. We all 
bid the present pastor God speed in his work here. To make 
the most of life, we may wisely study the examples and experi- 
ence of those who have preceded us, and the faith and self- 
sacrifice of our fathers and mothers should not be forgotten. 
A reverent recognition of God's government was theirs. A 
conscientious desire to know, and do, their duty influenced their 
minds and controlled their actions. Even their failings leaned 
to virtue's side. By a comparison of the present with the past 
the young people of to-day may be led to prize more the oppor- 
tunities before them. We live in an age of progress. Knowl- 
edge to our eyes "has unrolled her ample page rich with the 
spoils of time." Our choices need to be made with the greatest 
care. The calls to action are many, but what to do, and how to 
act, is not always clear. We need the wisdom and experience of 
the past to guide us. As we return to this venerable and conse- 
crated place, we are glad to find here still so many old acquaint- 
ances and friends, descendants of the old families, whose lives 
and virtues we recall with so much pleasure. 

"Happy he whom neither wealth nor fashion, 
Nor the march of the encroaching city drives an exile, 
From the hearth of his ancestral homestead. 

"We may build more splendid habitations, 
Fill our rooms with paintings and with sculptures, 
But we cannot buy with gold, the old associations." 



C hi c op e e Street 



79 



Pastors and Deacons of the First Church 
of Chicopee 



Pastors 

Rev. John McKinstry, 1752 — 1813. 
Rev. Alexander Phoenix, 1824—1835. 
Rev. Ebenezer B. Wright, 1835 — 1839. 
Rev. Eli B. Clark, 1839— 1N75. 
Rev. William E. Dickinson, 1876—188; 
Rev. Collins < i. Bnrnham, 1S88 — 



Deacons 



Benjamin Chapin, 1752 — 1756. Giles S. Chapin, 1834 — 1863. 



David Chapin. 1752 — 1776. 
Samuel Cooper. 
Edward Chapin. 1773 — 1800. 
Amos Skeele, 1813— 1825. 
Simeon Stedman, 1825— 1834. 
Joseph Pease, 1825 — 1839. 



Orange Chapin, 1 840— 1863. 
Sidney Chapin, 1863— 1875. 
Nathan Mosman. 1863— 1866. 
Marshall Pease, 1866 — 1896. 
William D. Chapin, 1875— 
Pascal J. Newell, 1896 — 



Ministers who have gone out krom the Chicopee Street 
Church 



Rev. Sewall Chapin. 
Rev. Walter Chapin, 
Rev. Calvin Chapin. D. 
Rev. Chester Chapin, 
Rev. Ephraim Chapin, 
Rev. Alfred Wright, 



Rev. Samuel Chandler, 
Rev. Charles Peabody. 
D.. Rev. John Alexander McKinstry, 
Rev. DeWitt S. Clark, D. D., 
Rev. Amos Skeele, 
Rev. Francis L. Palmer. 



8o 



Annals of 



Singers in the Old Meeting House 

Joseph Pease, Chorister. 

Lucy Griswold, Counter. Orithya Chapin, Counter. 



Mary Chapin, 
Betsey Chapin, 
Mabel Griswold, 
Roxana Skeele, 
Marcy Skeele, 
Hannah Van Horn, 



Sophia Van Horn, 
Louisa Van Horn, 
Rhedexa Chapin, 
Frances Chapin, 
Melia Chapin, 
Dorcas Lima Warner. 



Harvey Chapin, Tenor. 



Levi Stedman, Bass, 
Alpheus Chapin, Bass, 
Otis Skeele, Bass, 
Lewis Ferry, Jr., Bass, 



Whitfield Chapin, Bass, 
William Moulton, Bass, 
Alvin Chapin, Bass, 
Sylvester Chapin, Bass. 



Sheldon Chapin, Bass Viol. 
Amos Skeele, Jr., Flute. 



Singers in the New Meeting House, who sang on the 
Day of Dedication, Jan. 4, 1826 



Eliza McKinstry, 
Emily McKinstry, 
Theodosia McKinstry, 
Sophia Warner, 
Electa Warner, 
Lima Warner, 
Mary Ann Stedman, 
Sophia Stedman, 
Sophronia Pinney, 
Huldah Morgan, 
Delina Skeele, 
Elvira Chapin, 
Melissa Chapin, 



Aurilla Talcott, 
Delina Van Horn, 
Joseph Pease, 
Joseph Chapin, 
Levi Stedman, 
Quartus Chapin, 
Lewis Ferry, Jr., 
Otis Skeele, 
Phinehas Pease, 
James Pease, 
A. G. Parker. 
Reuben Goodman. 



Chicopee Street 81 

The Sunday-School 

,The first Sunday-school was held in the old church during 
the summer of 1818. It was organized by the Rev. Chester 
Chapin. Dr. Amos Skeele was superintendent. 

The teachers were 

Orange Chapin. Joseph Pease, 

Caleb Pendleton, Rhedexa Chapin, 
Marcy Skeele, Betsey Chapin. 

The lessons were the 35th and 97th Psalms. 40th chapter of 
Isaiah, 29th chapter of Proverbs, Christ's Sermon on the Mount. 
These were all committed to memory. 

The next year Rev. Reuben Hazen, who was preaching here 
at the time, formed a Bible class, which met in the old red 
schoolhouse. Among the lessons were, the names of the books 
of the Bible, the names by which God is known in the Scrip- 
tures, Is the observance of the Sabbath enjoined in the Scrip- 
tures? answered by proof texts. This school continued only a 
short time. 

Our present Sunday-school was organized in the new church 
in 1826. 

The superintendents have been 

Simeon Stedman, Benjamin H. Stedman, 

Joseph Pease, Phineas Stedman, 

Giles S. Chapin, William J. Baker, 

Phineas Stedman, Marshall Pease, 

Otis Skeele, Rev. C. G. Burnham. 
Sidney Chapin, 

The first librarian was William L. Bemis. who retained his 
office till 1841, when he left the place. He was most careful and 
exact in the care of the books. They were all covered with 
white cotton cloth. About 1839, a number of anti-slavery books 
were put into the library and these were all marked with a big 
black A. 



82 



Annals of 



In 1844, through the influence of Mr. Elias Gates, our Sun- 
day-school missionary society was organized. This is still in 
active operation. The largest membership of the Sunday-school 
was in 1834, when 159 names were registered. The present 
number is 65. 



Catalogue of Books in Parish Library 



No. 
Vol. 

8 Spectator. 

1 Hervey's Meditations. 

2 Blair's Sermons. 

1 Miss Rowe's Letters. 

2 Anson's Voyages. 
1 Bruce's Travels. 

1 Goldsmith's Essays. 

2 Franklin's Life. 

1 American Songster. 

6 Raynold's Histories. 

1 Keats' Sketches. 

1 Franklin's Works. 

1 Natural History. 

1 History of England. 

1 Men of the World. 

1 Bunyan's Holy War. 

1 Romance of the Forest. 

2 American Revolution. 

1 Smith's Moral Sentiment. 

1 Paley's Philosophy. 

1 Interesting Memoirs. 

1 Blair's Lectures on Criticism. 

1 Life of Howard. 

1 Essays. 

1 Morse's Geography. 



No. 
Vol. 

I Barlowe's Writings. 

I Salem Witchcraft. 

3 Hunter's Biography. 

1 Beauties of History. 

1 Belisarius. 

2 Washington's Letters. 

I Sublime and Beautiful. 

1 Price's Sermons. 

1 Fordyce's Addresses. 

1 Vision of Columbus. 

1 Pope's Iliad. 

2 Walker's Sermons. 

1 Sentimental Journey. 

2 Beauties of History. 

1 Moore's 

2 Moore's Journal through 

France. 

1 Well Bred Scholar. 

1 Adams's Selections. 

1 Thomson's Seasons. 

1 300 Animals. 

1 Robinson Crusoe. 

1 Cyrus' Travels. 

2 Algerine Captive. 
1 Locke's Essays. 



C hi c op e e Street 



83 



I 


Burrough's Life. 


1 


I 
J 


Chappell on Miracles. 
Ladies' Library. 


1 
1 


2 


Thomas's Essays. 


1 


I 


Elements of Morality. 


1 


A 


Robertson's Histories. 


4 


1 


Lee's Memoirs. 





Roslin on the Covenant. 
Volney's Ruins. 
Wattson's Apology. 
McLane on the Types. 
French Revolution. 
Kaime's Sketches on Man. 



This list is incomplete, as one volume bearing the No. 150 is 
still in existence. We do not know when this Library was estab- 
lished, probably near the close of the last century; but Mr. John 
McKinstry has this lamentable record, "June 21, 1834, Chicopee 
Vendued their Library, and forsook the tree of knowledge." 



84 Annals of 



Industries of The Old Fifth Parish 

Various industries have at different times occupied our peo- 
ple. Titus and Erastus Morgan were still members of this 
parish, when they built the saw mill "down in the field" on the 
banks of the Connecticut in Ireland Parish, about a mile above 
the present Holyoke dam. This was about 1783 and was the 
first utilization of that great water power. 

The water privilege at the south end of our Street was early 
improved by Chicopee people, for in 1791 "a new saw mill" was 
built by Gad, Luther and Azariah Vanhorn, Silas, Phinehas, 
William 2d, George, Seth, and Japhet Chapin, David Ashley 
and John Bridges. 

The first blacksmith's shop was set up by Mr. Adkins on 
land now owned by Mr. Phelon. The slag from the furnace 
remained there for many years; later Mr. Dilliber had a shop 
near the saw mill. 

At different times enterprising individuals have been sure 
that iron ore could be found in our hills, but no venture ever 
proved very successful. 

In 1810 George Gibbs of Providence, R. I., conceived the 
idea that coal was hidden in the banks near the Chicopee River, 
and signed a contract with Seth Chapin, which gave him liberty 
"to dig and bore" for the supposed treasure. But after a fruit- 
less search, the contract was annulled, and the disappointed man 
returned home. 

For a time Otis Skeele carried on boot and shoe making 
near his father's residence, afterward removing to Willimansett, 
where he continued the business till 1834. When he left Chico- 
pee Street, he sold out to A. G. Parker and Orson Allen. Their 
first shop was in Mr. Parker's house. Mr. Allen remained in the 
business but two or three years. Mr. Parker built a shop and 
enlarged his manufacture. Both Mr. Parker and Mr. Skeele 
found ready market for their boots and shoes in Hartford and 
New York. 



Chicopee Street 85 

Mr. Parker made ladies' fine shoes and also heavy and fine 
boots. He became a very popular shoemaker. People from 
Springfield ordered their shoes from him, among them Dr. 
Osgood, who used to bring up his boys and girls to be meas- 
ured for their yearly supply of slippers and shoes. In 1853 
Josiah A. Parker was taken into partnership, and the firm be- 
came A. G. Parker & Son. The business was afterwards re- 
moved to Chicopee Center. At one time about twenty men 
were employed and shipments were made to New York and to 
western cities. Mr. Parker, Sr., died in 1883. and his son con- 
tinued the business for a few years longer, but has since given 
it up. 

The first store in Chicopee. and for many years the only one 
in many miles, was opened by Joseph Pease about 1800. It 
stood near the tavern and was the center of trade for the coun- 
try round about. After 1823, when Mr. Pease was appointed 
postmaster, the post office was kept there until 1834. when it 
was removed to Willimansett. In 1821. Stephen C. Bemis, who 
had been a clerk in the store, was taken into partnership, and the 
firm became Pease & Bemis. Not long after Mr. Pease sold out 
to Mr. Bemis. In 1824 Chester \V. Chapin opened a rival store 
on the opposite side of the street, but this continued only a year, 
when the rival firms became one under the name of Chapin & 
Bemis. TI! health caused the withdrawal of Mr. Chapin. and 
Mr. Bemis continued the business alone, until his removal to 
Willimansett in 1831. He had been commissioned postmaster 
in 1824, and continued in office so long as the post office re- 
mained on our Street. 

From Stephen C. Bemis the store passed into the hands of 
William L. Bemis, and from him to Eli Stephenson, who again 
sold out to Parker & Bemis. Meanwhile Cabotville was grow- 
ing in importance, and trade here was becoming unprofitable. 
From being the center of activity and business, having the only 
post office, store, doctor, minister, and church, and the best 
schools in this part of the town, we suddenly found ourselves 
only a suburb of a growing manufacturing village. 

Mr. Frederic Chapin added to his business of "keeping tav- 
ern" the manufacture of powder on Powder Mill Brook at 
"Tigua." He afterwards made brick. 



86 Annals of 

Giles S. Chapin made brick for many years and was very 
successful. The brick in the oldest buildings and factories in 
Chicopee Center came from his yard. 

The first manufactory of friction matches in the country, per- 
haps in the world, was established here in 1835. Mr. Phillips, 
who came from Connecticut, had begun the making of them at 
his home, but he lacked capital. He met D. Monroe Chapin, 
who became interested. He, or his father, Mr. Frederic, fur- 
nished the capital and built the shop. The firm was Chapin & 
Phillips. They were successful; the business grew. At one time 
sixteen girls and four men were employed. Two large two- 
horse wagons went out over the state, taking orders, and deliv- 
ering the goods. After three or four years of unusual success, 
the business passed into other hands and was removed from the 
Street, 

Deacon Sidney Chapin made brooms in Chicopee Street from 
1850 to 1875. He employed, for the entire time, an average of 
four men, and made thirty thousand brooms per year. His 
market outside the Northern states was Virginia, North Caro- 
lina, Georgia, and London, England. Up to the breaking out 
of the civil war, he filled orders in Atlanta and Richmond, and 
as soon as peace was restored, the market in these southern 
cities was at once open to him again. 

In 1831, the Willimansett Manufacturing Company for the 
manufacture of machine cards and small hardware was organ- 
ized, with Bemis & Sheffield as agents. At one time as many 
as one hundred men were employed. The hardware included 
compasses, dividers, and other small tools. Before this time 
these goods were all imported and were expensive. This enter- 
prise changed prices, and helped to make American hardware 
popular. Mr. Bemis is considered the pioneer in the manu- 
facture of hardware in the Connecticut valley. Later the busi- 
ness was removed to Springfield, where it is continued under the 
name of the Bemis & Call Company. 

After this the factory, with its water privilege, was bought by 
Willis Phelps, who changed it to a woolen mill. Willis Phelps, 
Phelps & Smith, Henry Salisbury, and Jared Beebe continued 
the making of woolen goods until after the civil war. Probably 



C hie op e e Street 87 

Jared Beebe was the most successful of these. A few years ago 
the mill was burned. It has been partly rebuilt, but never occu- 
pied since. 

The first post office in Willimansett was established in 1834. 
Sylvester Allen was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by 
Closson Pendleton and later by Pascal J. Newell. 

The Connecticut River Railroad was opened, and the Willi- 
mansett station built in 1845. 

In 1841 Closson Pendleton opened the hotel and kept it a few 
years. With the building of the bridge a new prosperity has 
come to the village, and it is again one of the busy wards in the 
City of Chicopee. 



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